Economy
Ebonyi, Cross River Boundary Dispute : Warring Communities Sets To Return In Peace
Ebonyi, Cross River Boundary Dispute : Warring Communities Sets To Return In Peace
Ebonyi, Cross River boundary dispute : warring communities sets to return in peace. After 20 years of abandoning their homes, the people of Iphuigwe in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Ukele in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, who hitherto engaged in a boundary clash, have resolved to give peace a chance and expressed willingness to allow displaced persons to return to their homes.
This decision was made in a peace negotiation with stakeholders of both communities, held in Ipollo, in Yala local government area of Cross River State, and championed by the Ebonyi/Cross River Youth Peace Development Movement led by Prince Pascal Nwenyi.
Both clans have lived peacefully for ages and shared common values in farming, schools, and ceremonies, as well as being said to be friends who intermarry, until the outbreak of the crisis in 2005 due to obvious disagreements.
A business mogul, Uchenna Zeal Igwe told our correspondent that the war happened when he was still a kid but it’s so sad that after 20 years, he can’t still go back to his home in Mfuma because of the crisis.
He pleaded with the government and relevant stakeholders to help out in making sure that peace is returned Mfuma.
Also, the President of the Ebonyi Cross River Youth Peace Development Movement, Barrister Pascal Nwenyi, while commending the people for resolving to live peacefully as they did before 2005 when the crisis broke out, observed that there has been relative peace among them and hence the need to return to the status quo.
He appealed to the two local government chairmen to prioritise the security of the lives of their people, urging them to step in to aid development in the communities, particularly in terms of mechanised agriculture, which would improve economic activities as peace has returned to the area.
Lending his voice, His Royal Highness, Eze Clement Eze, Eze Udo 1 of the Iphuigwe autonomous community, expressed gladness over the development and commended the Ukele people for accepting the Izzi back to their settlement and re-emphasised the importance of peace for the development of the people, among other things.
Chief Fidelis Ebi, a Ukele man who noted that both clans have lived peacefully for ages, regretted the prolonged crisis, saying that he is confident of the return to status quo in unity and peace, urging the people to embrace it.

Cross River
Meanwhile, the President General of the Iphuigwe community, Comrade Obeji Linus, who doubles as the chairman of the Abakaliki Rice Mill Industry, has noted that the peace agreement has been his priority ever since he assumed the office of PG and commended the people for agreeing to give peace a chance while urging them to abide by the terms of the agreement.
“We have agreed to settle for peace; if an Izzi person erred, the Izzi people should bring the person to book, and likewise for the Ukele people.
All we are resolute about is that peace should return so long as the two communities have agreed,” he said.
However, at the end of the meeting, letters were signed by both community stakeholders which will be distributed to both local government chairmen to attend another meeting, scheduled to be held on the 17th of April 2025 at Mfuma, the crisis area, as a display of their sincere resolution to live peacefully.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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