Economy
Abia Governor Otti Orders 20 More Electric Buses, Expands Charging Stations
Abia Governor Otti Orders 20 More Electric Buses, Expands Charging Stations
Abia Governor Otti orders 20 more electric buses, expands charging stations. Mr Kanu said the construction of the bus terminals in Umuahia and Aba was ongoing.
The Abia government has ordered 20 additional electric buses for mass transit in addition to the 20 ordered earlier and increased the charging stations from 10 to 20.
The State commissioner for information, Okey Kanu, said this during a press briefing on the outcome of the Abia State government executive council meeting at the Government House, Umuahia, on Monday.
Mr Kanu said out of the first 20 buses expected to arrive in November, 12 will operate in Aba while eight will operate in Umuahia.
He said that among the remaining 20, some will operate on the Ohafia-Bende axis, adding that the arrival of the buses will transform the transport sector of the state.
Mr Kanu said the construction of the bus terminals in Umuahia and Aba was ongoing alongside junction improvement works and building of bus shelters.
He also revealed that: “Abia state government, in conjunction with Ethnocentric limited, has taken on board 1,200 Abia youths for the second cohort of Fashion Future Skills Programme in garments and leather works.
“This programme is designed to impart skills to Abia youths in garment-making and leatherworks.
“The programme has so far attracted over $3 million in sponsorship funding from MasterCard Foundation.”
He said Abia State sports ministry, in collaboration with the ministry of arts, culture and creative economy, has launched the ambitious Abia State Creative Talent Hunt Initiative.
Mr Kanu said the hunt is designed to empower young innovators and talents in music.
He said the sports ministry was working assiduously to celebrate this year’s Youth Day, slated for 6th to 12th August, entitled “Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Future”.
The commissioner said the activities lined up for the event included a youth assembly, symposium and interstate youth exchange visits.
He also added that Abia has procured a Wheelchair-accessible bus for disabled athletes for the International Sports Championships coming up from September 3 to October 12.
Mr Kanu said the Falconets from Abia, who won the tournament for Nigeria, will be appreciated in December because they hurriedly returned to their clubs for engagements.
He said Abia’s ministry of creative arts, supporting a young Abia citizen, Nuel Geoffrey, has broken a painting record of the Guinness Book of World Records for the number of faces painted in an hour.
He said Mr Geoffrey painted 275 faces to break the record earlier held, which is 217 faces painted in one hour.
“The official confirmation of this feat is being awaited was made possible through the support of Otti via the ministry of arts, culture and creative economy,” he said.
Mr Kanu said that the ministry of arts is also compiling an all year round book featuring Abia’s cultural festivals, a compendium of cultural festivals, calendar, key heritage sites, and others across the state to encourage tourism.

Governor Otti
“The ongoing recruitment of Abia Health workforce is progressing very well, and 1,604 applications have been receive,d and the portal will close on August 9.
“We therefore encourage all qualified health personnel to apply for available positions before the closure of the portal,” Mr Kanu said.
He further said 17 fully equipped primary healthcare Centres are now functional and offering care services to residents across the state.
The commissioner enjoined communities where they are located to ensure preservation and protection from criminals.
Mr Kanu said that there were no new cases of diseases of public interest in the state, ranging from Lassa fever, monkey pox, cholera, yellow fever and diphtheria.
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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