General News
HURIWA urges Gov.Soludo to reopen Onitsha main market,……. *appeals to striking fct workers, minister of FCT to resolve differences amicably *
By George Mgbeleke
Fearing that the closure of Onitsha Main Market for one week will deprived hundreds of thousands of the good people of Anambra state of their daily bread and make life unbearable for millions of their customers who need their goods and services, the governor of Anambra state Professor Chukwuma Nwangbafor Soludo has been asked by the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) to reopen the Onitsha Main Market.
Conversely, the striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory and the Minister of the Federal capital Territory Barrister Nyesom Wike have been urged to resolve their differences amicably so hundreds of thousands of children from poor homes attending publicly funded educational institutions in the Federal Capital can go back to school so their constitutionally guaranteed rights to quality education is not unduly denied them even as the Rights group described the agitation for improved wages as a fundamental right of workers. HURIWA has prayed the minister as someone appointed by the President to serve the interest of the citizens to consider the issue of the unpaid allowances that the striking workers are demanding so hostility would cease.
HURIWA recalled that the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, had ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week following traders’ failure to comply with the state government’s directive to disregard the Monday sit-at-home order.
The governor gave the directive on Monday during an on-site visit to the market, along with some of his aides and other government officials.
Soludo warned that the closure could be extended if traders fail to comply with the directive, adding that security agencies have sealed the market to enforce the order.
The governor described the development as the latest—and perhaps most drastic—salvo in a protracted struggle over control of economic life in the South-East on Monday.
Reacting, the prominent pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) said the closure of the Onitsha Main Market is not the appropriate step or measure to be adopted by the governor in his attempt to compel the traders to open their places of businesses on Monday.
HURIWA said the best approach to adopt is to hold consultative sessions with the leaderships of the market with a view to convincing them to keep their shops opened on Mondays with a firm guarantee of formidable security of lives and property should the traders comply with the directive of the state government. “It is a known fact that armed attackers have killed hundreds of innocent people going about their duties on Monday for failing to observe the sit-at-home order. Assuring the people of effective protection of the lives and property is critical towards convincing them to be at work on Mondays.
Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko the National Coordinator of HURIWA said keeping commercial activities up and running during the working days is a necessity to revive the economy of the South-East of Nigeria that has suffered prolonged violent campaign by some gunmen who had insisted that nobody or offices should be operated on Monday in solidarity with their agitation. “Honestly, we do not subscribe to this draconian and very extreme punitive measure of shutting down the market because the action will unleash massive hunger, deprivation and unemployment which Governor Soludo is elected to eradicate. This closure is counterproductive and we earnestly appeal to His Excellency the governor of Anambra state to rescind the decision and order the opening of the market immediately.
HURIWA spoke too about the ongoing strike by workers of the FCT and appealed to the striking workers to resist the temptation of adopting extreme and combative measure with the political authority just as the group asked the FCT minister to positively consider the demands of the workers because according to the Rights group the costs of living in Nigeria have become very unbearable just as inflation has eroded the purchasing power of the salaries that public workers earned in Naira which has become the most worthless means of exchange in the world due to unbridled devaluation.
“We believe honestly that the public interest is best served when the minister of FCT and the striking workers accept to mutually explore constructive and peaceful negotiations to reach agreeable decisions that would be actualised with minimal rancour.
“It is totally unacceptable that hundreds of thousands of children from struggling and poor households in the FCT have been displaced from their educational activities following the strike. The FCT minister should do everything within his power to amicably resolve this industrial action which in any case is a constitutional labour right of workers to embark on peaceful strikes to agitate for enhanced working environment and payments. What would happen if public hospitals are shut down is that the lives of thousands of poor citizens could be deprived due to strike action. We call for a swift and constructive end to this strike in the nation’s capital city. HURIWA reminded the minister that thousands of Abuja residents whose children attend public schools cannot afford to spend humongous amounts of US Dollars or Pounds to train their children in schools in Europe and America as most Political office holders do in this and previous political dispensation.
HURIWA recalled that workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration have on Monday, 18 January 2026, commenced an indefinite strike.
The FCTA staff intend to shut down government offices across Abuja to press unresolved pay and welfare demands, union leaders said.
The action was ordered by the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC).
The unions said the strike followed the expiry of a seven-day ultimatum given to FCTA management after meetings failed to resolve grievances.
“Yes, we are embarking on a strike on Monday,” JUAC public relations officer Holina Adejoh told the media.
JUAC listed several complaints, including unpaid promotion arrears, stalled promotions, the continued extension of service for retired directors and permanent secretaries, and alleged failure to remit workers’ pension and National Housing Fund deductions.
The unions also described a “mass failure” in the 2024 promotion exams that they say affected many staff.
The strike is expected to affect all FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils and parastatals, potentially grounding many public services in the territory.
The unions said copies of their strike notice were sent to the Minister of State for the FCT, the Chief of Staff and the Head of Service.
General News
Kiloshele lauds NANS Leadership Under Babatunde For peaceful protest for release of Abducted Students, Teachers of Oyo State
By David Owei
A forefront NAUS Presidential Aspirant, Comr. David Aladesanmi popularly referred as Mr. Kiloshele, has lauded the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), *Akinteye Babatunde Afeez GCNS*, for his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students.
He particularly commended the *NANS President* for peacefully mobilizing and coordinating efforts towards the abducted students and teachers in Orire Local Government Area. According to Mr. Kiloshele, the mature and responsible approach adopted by the student body under Akinteye’s leadership demonstrates the power of unity, dialogue, and constructive engagement in addressing national challenges.
Mr. Kiloshele further praised NANS for its consistent advocacy for student safety and security across educational institutions nationwide. He emphasized the need for all stakeholders, including government agencies and security operatives, to strengthen security measures in schools to safeguard students, teachers, and learning environments.
He called for sustained collaboration between student leaders, educational authorities, and security agencies to ensure that schools remain safe havens for learning and development, while applauding NANS, NAUS & sister bodies for standing firmly in defense of Nigerian students.
“Leadership is best measured by service, courage, and results. He conclusively, called upon media agencies to give this movement a worldwide publication as days is given to return our students, teachers back to thier schools and make Nigeria safe & safer for our education.
General News
Nigeria’s milk self-sufficiency will be won at states, LGs, not in Abuja -Expert
By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi
Nigeria’s journey to dairy self-sufficiency must shift from federal policy documents to deliberate action by states and local governments, a member of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, PLRIC, and Acting Director of the TETFUND Centre of Excellence on Dairy Research and Development, ATBU Bauchi, Prof. Demo Kalla has said.
Kalla spoke during a panel session on “Mainstreaming Dairy Development Policy at the Sub-national Level for Self-sufficiency: Opportunities, Challenges and Way Forward” as part of activities to mark the 2026 World Milk Day.
The session was moderated by a Radio Nigeria presenter Rita Ene Okwanihe while other panelists included Mr Snorri Sigurdsson, Head of Raw Milk Production, Arla Foods Nigeria; Dr Ishaq Bello, Special Adviser to the Minister of Livestock Development; Mr Brighton Ochieng, Chief Technical Officer, Promasidor Nigeria; and Hon. Adamu Mammagi Abdullahi, Commissioner for Livestock Development, Niger State.
Setting the context, Kalla said mainstreaming dairy development at the sub-national level means making dairy a deliberate part of state and local government planning, budgeting, investment promotion and rural economic strategy.
“In practical terms, it means moving dairy development from being viewed as a federal livestock initiative to becoming a priority economic sector owned and driven by states and local governments,” he stated.
He described it as “the missing link between Nigeria’s enormous livestock potential and the realization of dairy self-sufficiency.”
“Given that milk is produced in communities, not in policy documents, the success of Nigeria’s dairy transformation agenda will ultimately depend on actions taken at the state and local levels,” Kalla added.
He urged states and local government areas to domesticate the National Dairy Policy and create frameworks to attract investors, while promoting milk as a “super food for nutritional security.”
On the role of academia, Kalla said universities, research institutions and extension services are “the backbone of sustainable dairy development” because they generate knowledge, adapt technologies and build human capacity.
“Our mandate is to solve immediate local problems at the sub-national level. They must become active partners in the dairy transformation agenda by supporting state governments, dairy cooperatives, processors, and producers with evidence-based solutions,” he said.
He listed three immediate priorities: demand-driven research, technology transfer through demonstration farms and digital platforms, and capacity building and skills development.
“The dairy industry we desire will not emerge from investments in infrastructure alone. It will be built on knowledge, innovation, skills, and partnerships,” Kalla stressed.
Announcing a practical step, the expert said the Dairy Research and Development Centre, DRDC, stands ready to serve as a national platform for dairy science research, capacity building, innovation and knowledge sharing.
He called on the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration to accelerate Nigeria’s path to milk self-sufficiency, improved nutrition and rural prosperity.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the Special Adviser to the President on Livestock Development, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said dairy development is a strategic economic enterprise that can create jobs, improve nutrition and reduce Nigeria’s import dependence.
Jega, who is also Co-Chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, PLRIC, said
this year’s theme is “Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers: Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation,” stressing that it recognizes the pivotal role women play in milk production, processing, marketing and value addition across Nigeria.
He noted that the United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, IYWF 2026, underscoring women’s contributions to food security and economic growth.
“For Nigeria’s dairy sector, it reinforces the imperative of empowering women dairy farmers through improved access to productive assets, finance, technology, skills development, markets, and leadership opportunities,” he said.
The presidential adviser added that under President Bola Tinubu, the ongoing livestock reforms have placed dairy development at the heart of efforts to transform the livestock economy.
According to him, promoting fresh milk consumption is both a public health and economic imperative, saying “every litre of locally produced and consumed milk strengthens domestic value chains, creates opportunities for farmers and processors, improves household incomes, and contributes to national food and nutrition security.”
He said PLRIC remains committed to sustainable dairy development through policy reforms, investment promotion, breed improvement, pasture development, One Health, infrastructure expansion and stronger public-private partnerships.
Jega called on state governments, development partners, financial institutions, processors and investors to collaborate in mainstreaming dairy development at the sub-national level.
He concluded that a competitive dairy subsector will create wealth, employment and deliver nutritious fresh milk for a healthier and prosperous Nigeria.
General News
Tinubu commissions Jahi CNG Station as Rolling Energy leads clean fuel drive
By Olugbenga Salami
President Bola Tinubu has commissioned a state-of-the-art Compressed Natural Gas Daughter Booster Station in Jahi, Abuja, in a fresh push to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on costly petroleum products and unlock the value of its gas reserves.
Tinubu, who was by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the facility as a centrepiece of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the agenda places domestic gas utilisation at the heart of Nigeria’s industrial and economic future.
Nigeria holds about 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves. Yet for decades, much of the resource has been exported while Nigerians grapple with expensive and polluting fossil fuels.
The Tinubu administration is now moving to reverse that trend. The Jahi commissioning is one of four gas infrastructure projects unveiled simultaneously nationwide.
Similar facilities were launched by Ibile Oil and Gas and Portland Energy in Lagos and Owerri respectively.
“This facility marks another important milestone in our collective drive to deepen gas utilisation, expand access to cleaner energy solutions, and strengthen Nigeria’s gas value chain,” Ekpo declared at the event.
At the forefront of the transformation is Rolling Energy Limited, the private firm behind the Jahi station which developed the project in partnership with the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, MDGIF.
Chairman of Rolling Energy, Mubarak Umar Dambata, said the company’s footprint extends beyond Abuja.
He disclosed that Rolling Energy is rolling out CNG mother stations, daughter stations and Liquefied Natural Gas facilities in Kaduna, Kano and Borno states.
The firm has also partnered with the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles to convert over 8,000 vehicles to gas-powered systems.
The initiative is designed to translate policy into direct savings for commuters, tricycle operators and businesses.
The Jahi facility has a sales capacity of 1,000 Standard Cubic Metres, SCM, per hour.
It features two CNG tube skids with a combined storage capacity of 17,000 SCM.
The station also houses a Mass Conversion Centre that can convert up to 20 vehicles and 25 tricycles daily.
Since commercial operations began, it has been serving 350–400 vehicles per day.
Projected capacity is to serve more than 1,000 CNG vehicles and 100 trucks daily across the FCT and surrounding regions.
Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles, Ismahil Ahmed, said the removal of fuel subsidies created urgency for alternative energy.
“CNG offers a cleaner and more economically viable option,” Ahmed argued. He urged investors to move quickly into a market where demand for gas infrastructure is rising.
Presidential Adviser Sunday Dare said the administration has commissioned 25 projects nationwide to mark its third anniversary, with clean energy and gas infrastructure featuring prominently.
With regulatory backing from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and financial support from MDGIF, officials say the foundation for a CNG-powered Nigeria is now in place.
For truck drivers, tricycle operators and factory owners, the promise is lower costs, cleaner air and greater energy reliability.
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