The Abia State Government on Thursday, March 26, 2026, organised a grand state burial service in honour of the late Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, one of Nigeria’s most influential Christian evangelists and founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association.

The solemn ceremony took place at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, beginning at 10:00 a.m. It drew top government officials, religious leaders, and mourners from across Nigeria and beyond to celebrate the life and legacy of the cleric, who died on October 6, 2025, at the age of 80.

The remains of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, a native of Asaga in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, were earlier received with full honours at the Akwa Ibom-Abia state boundary before being conveyed to Umuahia for the state funeral service.

The body had previously lain in state in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where he resided for many years.

Governor Alex Otti’s administration described the late evangelist as a “towering figure” whose life of faith, leadership, and humanitarian impact left an indelible mark on Abia State, Nigeria, and the global Christian community.

The state burial was part of a week-long programme of funeral rites that culminated in the final interment on Friday, March 27, 2026, at his hometown of Asaga, Ohafia.

Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, born on January 7, 1945, was celebrated as an international preacher who ministered for nearly six decades. He was widely respected for his powerful crusades, teachings on faith and prosperity, and establishment of numerous charitable initiatives, including educational and medical outreach programmes.

Dignitaries in attendance included senior government functionaries, clergy from various denominations, and notable figures who paid glowing tributes to his spiritual legacy and contributions to nation-building through the gospel.

The state burial reflects Abia’s recognition of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai’s immense role in promoting moral values and spiritual development. Family members, while expressing gratitude for the honour bestowed on their patriarch, described his passing as a “glorious home-going.

”As the final interment proceeds today in Asaga, Ohafia, many have described the occasion as not just a farewell but a celebration of a life well-lived in service to God and humanity.

The Abia State Government has urged residents and visitors to observe the period with dignity and solemnity.

Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State has directed the immediate suspension without pay of civil servants found absent from their duty posts during an unscheduled visit to the state secretariat in Awka on Thursday.

The governor stormed the secretariat around 10:30 a.m. on March 26, 2026, for an on-the-spot assessment of workers’ punctuality, conduct, and commitment to duty across various ministries and departments.

To his dismay, many offices were empty or sparsely staffed, with several departments recording only one or two workers or none at all well past the official resumption time.

Addressing journalists after the inspection, Governor Soludo issued a stern directive: any worker not found at their duty post by 10:00 a.m. should be suspended without pay.

He reportedly remarked that by 10 a.m., if staff are not in their seats, “we don’t need them,” signaling zero tolerance for lateness and absenteeism in the state civil service.

The surprise visit has sparked tension at the secretariat, with officials now compiling lists of present and absent staff for enforcement of the governor’s order.

Some reports indicate the suspension could last up to six months for those affected, though exact durations and the number of workers impacted are yet to be officially confirmed.

This move forms part of Soludo’s broader efforts to reform and reposition the Anambra civil service, emphasizing accountability, discipline, and improved public service delivery in his administration.

The governor has previously warned non-performing staff of potential disengagement and is pushing for a more efficient bureaucracy aligned with his development agenda.

Civil servants and political observers have reacted with a mix of surprise and support, with some describing the action as a necessary step to weed out ghost workers and enforce work ethics. Others have called for a holistic review of the civil service, including verification of attendance registers.

The Anambra State Government is yet to issue a formal statement detailing the full list of suspended workers or further sanctions.

The development comes amid ongoing reforms in the state’s public sector as Soludo continues his second term in office.

Members of the public and affected workers have been advised to await official communication from the relevant ministries regarding implementation.

The United Kingdom government will increase fees for Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking to visit, study, work or settle in the country effectively from April 8, 2026.

The revised fee schedule, published by the UK Home Office on Thursday shows increases across nearly all categories of visa applications made both within and outside the UK.

The affected categories include visit visas, student visas, work visas, settlement applications and naturalisation fees.

The changes will take effect in less than two weeks, at a time when Nigeria remains one of the UK’s biggest sources of visa applicants, with hundreds of thousands of Nigerians applying each year for visit, student, and work visas.

Under the new charges, the short-term visit visa will rise from £127 to £135, while the student visa will increase from £524 to £558.

Applicants seeking permanent residency through indefinite leave to remain will now pay £3,226, up from £3,029, while those applying for British citizenship through naturalisation will pay £1,709, up from £1,605.

In a rare exception to the general increase, the fee for registering a child as a British citizen will be reduced from £1,214 to £1,000 — a drop of £214.

Some categories, however, remain unchanged, including the Tier 1 (Investor) visa at £2,000 and the High Potential Individual visa at £880.