News
Chadian rebels kills President Idris Derby

President of Nigeria’s neighbouring country, Chad, Idris Derby is dead

He died of gunshot wounds from rebels who engaged the President while leading troops on battle field.

Details of his death are still sketchy but the army authorities said he died from injuries sustained on the war front.
The Chadian army is currently combating rebel forces who have launched an assault on the capital, N’Djamena.
Deby, 68, “has just breathed his last defending the sovereign nation on the battlefield” over the weekend, army spokesman, General Azem Bermandoa Agouna, said in a statement read out on state television.
General Mahamat Kaka, the son of the deceased Chadian leader, has been named interim head of the state, the army spokesman said.
The news came a day after Deby, who came to power in a rebellion in 1990, won a sixth term, as per provisional results released on Monday. Deby took 79.3 per cent of the vote in the April 11 presidential election, the results showed.
Deby postponed his victory speech to supporters and instead went to visit Chadian soldiers battling rebels, according to his campaign manager.
The rebel group, Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), which is based across the northern frontier with Libya, attacked a border post on election day and then advanced hundreds of kilometres south.
But it suffered a setback over the weekend.
Chad’s military spokesman Agouna, told the Reuters news agency that army troops killed more than 300 fighters and captured 150 on Saturday in Kanem province, around 300 kilometres from the capital Ndjamena.

News
Benue Judicial Crisis: Group calls for visa ban on Chief Judge, Registrar, others

The ongoing judicial crisis in Benue State has taken a new twist, with the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD) now calling for a visa ban on the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, and the Registrar of the court.

The group is also demanding global restrictions on all individuals allegedly involved in judicial interference in the state.

The confrontation between the Benue State government and the Chief Judge has intensified due to allegations that Ikpambese granted a waiver to petitioners of the local government election tribunal, among other alleged infractions.
In a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, UN-WCD Secretary Ambassador Tunji Ashaolu expressed concerns over the erosion of public confidence in the judiciary, citing a series of conflicting court rulings. He warned that such incidents were spreading across the country, referencing similar occurrences in Rivers and Osun states.
Ashaolu emphasized that these issues directly contradict the principles set out in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG). These principles include promoting the adherence of states to universal democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law, which, in the case of Nigeria, should be upheld by the Constitution.
The UN-WCD had previously advocated for similar visa bans against individuals involved in judicial interference in Rivers State. However, Ashaolu pointed out that the Benue crisis warranted particular attention due to the state’s ongoing security challenges, which have led to the establishment of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the region.
“The Benue State Chief Judge, the court’s Registrar, the current Senate Minority Leader, and all those publicly supporting the actions of the Chief Judge should face sanctions, including the cancellation of their existing visas and the imposition of a visa ban, just as we previously advocated for officials in Rivers State,” said Ashaolu.
The group also highlighted concerns about the human rights implications of allowing judicial officers to undermine institutions like democracy and the rule of law. They warned that such actions would hinder the state’s development prospects.
“We have credible information that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has yet to form an investigative panel to address the allegations against the Chief Judge,” Ashaolu added. “The Benue State House of Assembly has already recommended the Chief Judge’s removal, and the state government has forwarded this resolution to the NJC. The NJC should have taken action by now, they said”
The group called for the Chief Justice of Nigeria to proactively set up a probe into the matter, despite the NJC’s inaction on earlier petitions against the Chief Judge. They urged caution from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and NJC, stressing that any judgment should await a thorough investigation, with the presumption of innocence and due process guiding the process.
In their statement, the UN-WCD underscored the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability for public officials, including judges. “Acts of misconduct or abuse of power must be met with swift and decisive action to maintain public trust in the judiciary,” said Ashaolu.
The group vowed to continue monitoring the situation closely, advocating for ethical governance practices both within Nigeria and internationally. They also called on the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation to establish an independent panel to investigate allegations of financial irregularities and breaches of ethical standards against Chief Judge Ikpambese.
“Due process must be followed to ensure justice is served and public trust is upheld,” Ashaolu concluded.

News
Bodo-Bonny Road: Communities upbeat, eagerly await project completion

For the first time in history, Bonny Island is set to be connected to mainland Rivers State by road. The Bodo-Bonny Road, spanning 35.7 kilometres, is a landmark infrastructure project that will unlock new economic opportunities for the region. Constructing this road, however, has been no small feat. Running through low-lying marshlands, tidal zones, and swampy terrain, the project has required advanced engineering to ensure that the road can withstand heavy rainfall, flooding, and unstable ground conditions.

Despite these challenges, visible changes are taking shape along the route. On the mainland, work on the road foundation is nearing completion, while in Bonny, sections of the newly paved surface are already in use. Bridge structures are in place, and the installation of protective barriers is expected to commence soon. Road workers are laying the final layers in preparation for asphalt paving, which project managers say will begin in the coming weeks.

A Julius Berger official on-site confirmed that work is advancing as planned. “We are making steady progress, and the project remains on track. The goal is to ensure the road is stable and durable, even with the challenging terrain,” he explained.
Inside Bonny Island, finishing works on the concrete road are moving at a steady pace, with some sections already accessible. Workers remain committed, with activities continuing even during their break hours. The Bodo-Bonny Road is already drawing activity, with traders and small businesses setting up along completed sections.
Julius Berger’s Administrative Manager, Barr. Samuel Hart described the progress as steady and well-coordinated. “This project spans three to four local government areas, and from our engagements, the communities see it as their own. They are eager to drive from Port Harcourt to Bonny without hindrance,” he said. Hart reaffirmed Julius Berger’s commitment to timely delivery, emphasizing that traditional rulers and local stakeholders are closely monitoring the work with anticipation.
Chairman of the Bodo-Bonny Road Peace Committee, Chief Dr. O. R. Longjohn, echoed this sentiment, stating, “This project will unlock tremendous opportunities for Bonny Island, enabling socio-economic development across the region and beyond. Bonny Island plays a vital role in Nigeria’s economy, housing the nation’s largest oil and gas industries. Julius Berger’s work here is transformative, and we eagerly await completion.”
Security remains a key challenge, but measures are in place at the project site. Assistant Security Manager, Abraham Ikhenoba, highlighted the role of military support in maintaining stability. “We frequently engage with local communities to understand their concerns. The enthusiasm for this project is palpable; residents see Julius Berger as a company deeply committed to Nigeria’s progress,” he said.
For Project Director, Tim Nippert, the project represents both an engineering milestone and a national priority. “The terrain here is extremely challenging, requiring precise technical expertise, planning, and logistics. We are working hard to deliver this road. The current base course coverage ensures protection in case of early rains, allowing us to continue working through the season. By September, all three road sections will be ready for asphalt placement, with final preloading removal scheduled by year-end,” he said.
The Bodo-Bonny Road project spans four local governments and is a testament to the potential of public-private partnerships. Funded through a tripartite agreement between the Federal Government, Nigeria LNG (NLNG), and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the road is expected to transform access to Bonny Island, reinforcing the critical role of infrastructure in fostering regional and national integration.

News
Echocho begins three-day training and empowerment of youths in agriculture across Ankpa Federal Constituency [Pictorials]

The training and empowerment of youths in Agriculture in Ankpa Federal Constituency commenced on Wednesday at the conference hall of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees.

The exercise which was facilitated by the Senator representing Kogi East, Distinguished Sen Isah Jibrin (Echocho), would see to the training of youths from Ankpa Federal Constituency .

The programme designed for beneficiaries from Ankpa, Omala and Olamaboro local governments aims to equip youths with essentials agricultural knowledge while providing them with capital and seedlings, facilitated by Sen Isah Jibrin (Echocho).
Declaring the training and empowerment open, Senator Isah who was represented by his Senior Legislative Aid, Alhaji Danlami Garba, called on the youths to be committed to the training in order to be self-employed.
He said, the youths should leverage on peace prevailing in Kogi East to get back to agriculture in order to sustain food security in line with the Federal Government’s agricultural policy, adding that the best form of security for any nation is food security.
According to him, the training of youths was part of his constituency projects targeted at youths because of their strength and passion for self development, stressing that the nation stand to benefit by redirecting their focus to self employment through agriculture, assuring that the training will be extended to other Federal Constituencies in few weeks.
He said: “As you undergo a three-day training, it’s an opportunity for you to delve into agricultural enterprise productively, leveraging on various government agricultural initiatives.
“Of course, Kogi East has rich history of agriculture that ocassioned the famous Afor Gam Gam, Ikanekpo in Ankpa, Bagana, Aja Abejukolo, Anyigba, Ejule, Aja Itobe, Oguma in Bassa and other markets which were highly patronised by people from adjoining States.
“It’s our collective resolve that the district would be returned to the good old days through agriculture, economic and empowerment that ensures that our youths are mobilised to farms in the forthcoming season.
