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Police Debunks Alleged Sit-at-home order in Anambra

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The Anambra State Police Command has debunked the alleged sit-at-home order in the state while urging residents to go about their lawful activities and not to panic over rumours making the rounds.

The command dismissed the rumour, noting that residents of the state should ignore the false information.

The command spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement on Friday, said the panic was created by some “mischief makers” sharing false security alerts/messages and doctored old videos to cause tension and panic in the state.

This is coming after the pandemonium at some marketplaces in Onitsha and Nnewi where commercial activities were disrupted due to gunshots said to be fired by some unknown gunmen enforcing sit-at-home order.

There have been rumours across the state that some unknown gunmen have directed residents, traders, and schools to sit at home and remain indoors on Friday (today).

This created palpable tension across major cities of the state including Awka, Nnewi, and Onitsha.

It was gathered that the development made traders at the markets in the communities, who had earlier opened for business immediately close shops while parents were also said to have stormed various schools to pick up their children.

A trader in Onitsha Main Market who craved anonymity said, “Some people have warned that there is not going to be human movement today (Friday) and markets will not open. That people should remain indoors, but nobody knows the reason and the direction it is coming from.

“Some of us who came to the market this morning hung around and were watching development while some traders opened their shops partially. But pandemonium started when we heard gunshots being fired near the bridgehead and these made the traders and some people who were in the market to start running.”

But reacting to the development, Ikenga, dismissed the report, saying it was the handiwork of mischief makers sharing false security alerts.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command today 7/7/2023 has observed with great dismay, the mischievous act of persons sharing false security alerts/messages, and doctored old videos of security incidents to cause tension/panic in the state.

“Given the above, the command shall invoke relevant cyber laws on persons found wanting in this regard.

“Meanwhile, the Command has noted that the confidence reposed on us by Ndi Anambra in the protection of lives and properties shall not be taken for granted.

“The police with other security forces have intensified patrols, improved security dominance and surveillance in the state.

“In the event of any request for security service, members of the public are advised to call the following phone numbers: the Command Control Room Number at 07039194332 or the Public Relations Officer PRO at 08039334002.

“The ‘npf rescue me app’ is also available for free download on both Android and Apple IOS, for Android and iPhone users respectively.”

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FG Launches Digital Education Database, Seeks Full School Participation

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The Federal Government has called on state governments, local education authorities and private school owners to actively participate in the Digitalised Nigeria Education Management Information System, known as DNEMIS, to strengthen education planning and service delivery across the country.

Speaking at the official launch of the platform in Abuja, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said effective education reforms depend on credible and comprehensive data.

Alausa noted that the digital platform will provide real-time information on classrooms, teachers, enrolment, computer facilities, water and sanitation infrastructure, among other key indicators.

He also said that DNEMIS will transform the collection, analysis and use of education data, enabling governments to identify gaps, deploy resources efficiently and make evidence-based decisions.

He stressed that accurate data remains critical for monitoring progress, evaluating interventions and planning for the future of the education sector.

Alausa also commended development partners, including the World Bank, UNICEF, the European Union and the Norwegian Government for supporting the development and rollout of the platform, adding that their intervention helped overcome implementation challenges and accelerated the project’s delivery.

The Director-General of the National Bureau of Statistics, Semiu Adeyemi Adeniran, pledged the agency’s support for DNEMIS.

He further stated that the NBS would integrate its systems with the platform and use household surveys and Small Area Estimation data to validate education statistics, ensuring a single reliable source of education data for national planning and policy implementation.

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Nigeria Moves from Decline to Stability – Finance Minister Oyedele (Photos)

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Nigeria has successfully navigated the toughest phase of its economic reforms and is now prioritising accelerated, broad-based growth that benefits citizens and businesses, according to the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele.

Speaking at the Nigeria Employers’ Summit 2026 organised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) in Abuja, Oyedele said the bold reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration averted an imminent economic collapse and established a foundation for macroeconomic stability.

Addressing business leaders, policymakers, and development partners during a high-level panel titled “Reforms in Focus: The Milestones, the Challenges and the Prospects,” the Minister acknowledged the short-term hardships caused by the reforms but described them as essential for restoring fiscal sustainability.

“Before the reforms, Nigeria faced an unsustainable fiscal situation where oil revenues were largely consumed by fuel subsidies and non-oil revenue by debt obligations, leaving little room for investment in infrastructure and other critical sectors,” Oyedele explained.

He emphasised that the reforms were necessary to prevent economic collapse. “The task before us now is to consolidate the gains, deepen stability and accelerate productive, inclusive growth that improves the lives of Nigerians,” the Minister stated.

Oyedele noted that the economy has transitioned from severe volatility to increasing stability, creating conditions to attract investment, boost productivity, and build long-term resilience. The next phase of reforms, he said, will focus on faster economic growth, expanding opportunities across sectors, reducing inflation, and protecting vulnerable groups including low-income earners and small businesses.

The Minister also addressed public perceptions of government policies, particularly borrowing. He observed that criticism often stems from viewing debt through the lens of personal finance rather than strategic fiscal management. He cited the recent tax reforms as an example, which were designed to protect small businesses and low-income households while ensuring higher contributions from those with greater capacity.

Oyedele called on Nigerians to adopt a more balanced narrative about the country’s progress, recognising improvements in fiscal management, debt sustainability, investor confidence, and overall economic stability despite remaining challenges.

Other panelists, including Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA); Dr. Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE); and Dr. Wilson Erumebor, Principal Economist at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), acknowledged the necessity of the reforms while urging stronger actions to deliver tangible benefits to businesses and citizens.

Discussions at the summit centred on healthcare financing, infrastructure development, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, power sector reforms, tax administration, and translating macroeconomic stability into better living standards and enterprise competitiveness.

The Nigeria Employers’ Summit 2026 convened senior government officials, private sector leaders, development partners, and economic experts to explore how ongoing reforms and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles can enhance competitiveness and drive inclusive national growth.

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Nigeria must never experience another civil war, Obasanjo warns

Obasanjo noted that many of the factors that led to the 1967–1970 conflict still exist within the country’s institutions and among its people.

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday warned that Nigeria must never experience another civil war.

Obasanjo spoke at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while receiving a historical documentation on the Asaba Massacre from the Isama Ajie of Asaba, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze.

Obasanjo noted that many of the factors that led to the 1967–1970 conflict still exist within the country’s institutions and among its people.

The work, titled Asaba Massacre, comprises a published transcript and an audiovisual documentary based on eyewitness accounts, recorded interviews, archival materials, audiovisual documentation and historical research.

Speaking during the presentation, Obasanjo, who served as a military commander during the Nigerian Civil War, said that he had always refrained from commenting extensively on the Asaba Massacre because the area was under the command of the late General Murtala Muhammed.

He commended Nduka-Eze for documenting the events, saying the work would contribute to preserving Nigeria’s history and preventing a recurrence of such tragedies.

“We pride ourselves that we preserve the past, we capture the present and we inspire the future. We capture the past, and this is the past; we want to capture it, we want to know about it,” Obasanjo said.

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