General
Abia Runs to AfBD to Address Infrastructure Deficit, Others
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Abia State Government is in talks with the African Development Bank (AfDB) over creation of its entrepreneurship and agricultural investment hub that will make the state a better player in the country’s economy.
This followed a meeting between the governor of the state, Mr Okezie Ikpeazu and the Bank’s president, Mr Akinwumi Adesina at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, where they discussed investments for the South-Eastern state that will see the creation of jobs and improve the standard of living.
With a population of over 2.8 million, Abia State is looking to the Bank to help make Enyimba Economic City (EEC), an ambitious economic hub, a reality.
The Governor said, “Our vision is to leverage the capacity of our people to become the SME capital of Nigeria. Our people are industrious and innovative.
“For instance, our people are known as top players in the leather industry. We have a new shoe factory that is producing over 50, 000 shoes.
“We particularly need the Bank’s help to address the State’s infrastructure deficit,” he said.
The state government’s project which was presented at the Bank’s 2019 Africa Investment Forum was also looking to transform the region into a manufacturing and and industrial hub that will lead to the creation of 700,000 jobs over a period of five years.
In addition, Mr Ikpeazu also requested the Bank’s support for the development of key agricultural value chains, including palm oil, rice, cocoa, cassava, maize and cashew, that would also create jobs for women and youth.
It was also revealed that there were other investments that the Abia State Government was looking to invest in, one of which include a waste-to-energy project. Others include to facilitate the Abia State Integrated Infrastructural Project which is designed to develop massive infrastructure in the state, especially in the commercial city of Aba and the capital of Umuahia.
According to the AfDB President, Mr Adesina, “Abia State has huge potential in agro-processing and human resources.
“The Bank’s role is to support governments like yours to transform their economies and create jobs.”
“Over the years, Aba has evolved as a centre of entrepreneurship and SMEs. The city has the potential to be a competitive industrial hub for Nigeria and for Africa. For this reason, the Bank will continue to support your vision,” Mr Adesina added.
After 48 years of its operations in Nigeria, it was disclosed that $74.5 million had been invested in Abia State with the power and energy sector with a combined 53 percent of the investment. Others include: education (25 percent); health (15 percent); and transportation (7 percent).
The Bank then assured that Abia State will continue to be a key beneficiary of the Bank’s support with the planned Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project and the Enyimba Economic City.
General
NURTW Crisis: Police Arraign Baruwa After ‘Coup’ Against MC Oluomo
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The attempt by Mr Tajudeen Baruwa to forcefully overthrow Mr Musiliu Akinsanya, otherwise known as MC Oluomo, as the chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has landed him in trouble.
The factional chairman of the group was arrested by the police in Abuja on Monday after he led other members to the headquarters of NURTW to dislodge his opponent.
Mr Baruwa claimed that he won a case against MC Oluomo at the court, empowering him to take over the leadership of the union.
The action triggered pandemonium at the secretariat of the organisation yesterday, prompting officials of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to pick him up.
The police have arraigned him alongside the factional General Secretary, Mr Sulaiman Musa, and five others in connection with the incident.
They were charged at Magistrate Court 1, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, by the police for disrupting public peace, though normalcy has since been restored to the area.
General
Empowering Women Goes Beyond Celebrating IWD, Others—Interswitch HR
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Group Chief Human Resource Officer of Interswitch, Mr Franklin Ali, has highlighted the importance of creating deliberate opportunities that support women’s professional growth.
Speaking at a virtual session organised by the company to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026 under the theme Give to Gain, he noted that, “At Interswitch, we believe empowering women goes beyond celebrating milestones like International Women’s Day. It requires creating meaningful platforms where women can learn, share experiences, and gain the visibility needed to grow as leaders. Through initiatives like Give to Gain, we encourage our women to recognise the value they bring and confidently amplify their impact within the organisation and beyond.”
At the event, which also featured the Deputy Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Bank Limited, Ms Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju, the leading African technology company reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women across its workforce and fostering an inclusive workplace culture.
In her presentation, which focused on Give to Gain – Give Value, Gain Visibility, Ms Dayo-Olagunju emphasised the importance of intentional value creation and visibility in shaping professional growth for women in the workplace.
Drawing from her experience in the financial services sector, she also shared perspectives on how women can intentionally position themselves for greater impact, build influence within their organisations, and translate consistent value delivery into meaningful professional growth.
It was gathered that Interswitch distributed customised care packages to female employees across its offices. The gesture served as a token of appreciation for the resilience, dedication, and excellence demonstrated daily by women across the organisation.
Beyond the session and care packages, Interswitch continues to support women across its workforce through a range of internal policies to promote well-being and work-life balance. These include access to top-notch creche facilities, a robust maternity leave policy, and an exclusive spousal allowance initiative, all of which reinforce the company’s broader commitment to creating a supportive environment where women can thrive both professionally and personally.
This year’s International Women’s Day initiative reflects Interswitch’s recognition of the vital role women play in shaping the company’s continued growth and success. Across technology, operations, product development, finance, and leadership, women within the organisation continue to drive innovation and strengthen service delivery.
General
Eight Die as Terrorists Blow up Niger Bridge
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A bridge connecting the Luma-Babana-Agwara communities in Niger State was destroyed by terrorists on Monday. The incident claimed the lives of eight people.
The bridge is a vital route used by residents travelling to the Babanna border market, which operates every Monday.
According to reports, the hoodlums used an improvised explosive device (IED) to bring down the facility located along Luma Road in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The Chairman of Borgu Local Government, Mr Mohammed Nasir Abdullahi, who confirmed the attack, noted that authorities were working to verify the full extent of the damage.
“There was actually an attack by the bandits, and we are trying to verify the magnitude. A bridge was actually damaged. Already, we have sent people to the area to verify things for us,” Vanguard quoted him as saying.
It also quoted a source as saying, “In the early hours today, bandits stormed Borgu local government area of the state and bombed the Lunma-Babana bridge. Apart from bombing the bridge, the bandits also detonated bombs between Rafingiwa and Babana, and another at Woro and Kaiama, forcing residents to flee the area.”
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