General News
Enugu, Ebonyi govts pursue revival of moribund industries, Anambra differs
Stakeholders in Enugu and Ebonyi States have hailed the deliberate efforts of the State Governments to revive some of the industries that became moribund several decades ago.
The people spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu and Abakiliki.
They expressed the hope that the initiative would help to open up the economy, create youth employment and enhance the internally generated revenue profile of the states.
NAN recalls that Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has successfully revived the state-owned Niger Gas Ltd, while the resuscitation of Sunrise Flour Mills is still in progress.
Also, the resuscitation of the Enugu United Palm Products Ltd as well as the Songhai Farms have reached advanced stages.
The Niger Gas Ltd., a gas plant established by the government of the defunct Eastern Region, had been grounded for over 35 years.
Already, the company has commenced the production of acetylene, nitrogen, medical oxygen, and welding/process oxygen, with the creation of direct and indirect employment across its distribution, fabrication, transport, and supply chains.
In a similar vein, the State Government is making effort to also revive Sunrise Flour Mill, Emene, Enugu, following the signing of a N40 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JELFAH Group. The mill had been moribund for over 40 years.
It has the capacity to produce flour, semolina, and wheat, and is expected to create both direct and indirect jobs along it’s supply, distribution, transportation, agricultural-development and related value-chains, when completed.
The State Government is also set to revive the Enugu United Palm Products Ltd with the signing of N100 billion deal with Pragmatic Palms Limited in May 2024, after 35 years of its closure.
The company, which plans to increase its 6,700-hectare palm plantation to at least 20,000-hectare in five years, targets over 3,500 direct and indirect jobs within the palm oil and its related products value-chains.
The government has also commenced the process of resuscitating its 10,000-hectare Enugu Tribu Songhai Farms in Ezeagu Local Government Area, with access roads rehabilitated and 54 fish ponds already constructed.
Rehabilitation work is currently ongoing on the piggries, poultry units, water systems, residential facilities and training centres in the farm.
The government also revitalised a privately owned Enugu-based vehicle manufacturing and assembly plant, otherwise known as ANAMMCO Limited, with patronage in terms of auto-mobile training for thousands of youths in the state.
The automobile company is also handling the repair of broken-down mass transit buses as well as other transport servicing projects meant to revive the state’s transport sector.
Speaking on the initiatives, a community leader in Enugu, Dr John Egbo, said that Mbah’s administration had done well in revitalising industries with great impact on the state economy.
Egbo said, “Before now, the premises of these industries were overgrown with grasses and taken over by rodents, while men of the underworld use them as their criminal hideout.”
Chief Leonard Ugwu, the President of the 9th Mile Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines And Agriculture (9CCIMA), Enugu State, commended Mbah for his focus on improving and rebuilding the economy of the state.
Ugwu said that Mbah was poised to recover the years of lost economic grounds through the revitalisation of moribund industries, expanding them and building agro-allied industries, free trade and agricultural zones.
“The governor is matching his administration’s ambitious economic growth with verifiable actions, especially in the revival of the moribund industries and ensuring their multiplier effects on the majority,” he said.
In a related development, stakeholders in Ebonyi have commended the State Government’s proposal to revitalise dead industries and also establish a new cement factory in Nkalagu.
Speaking to NAN in Abakiliki, the people said the cement factory, when established, would create jobs, and reduce cost of building materials in the state, South-East and Nigeria.
NAN recalled that the government appropriated N150 billion in the 2026 budget for the new factory.
The State Government had cited some bottlenecks surrounding the reactivation of the old factory, Nigerian Cement Company (NIGERCEM), Nkalagu, as its reason for the plan to establish a new one.
In an interview, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Prof. Ogugua Egwu, applauded the government’s proposal for the establishment of new industries and revitalisation of the abandoned ones.
Egwu said the initiative, if properly implemented, would expand work space and improve the state’s economy.
He said that the plan, which had already been captured as “budget of industrialisation”, would help revive the moribund industries.
“We are comfortable with the desire to expand the work space but do not know why the process is slow.
“But the moment they become a reality, we will be glad to ensure that the right persons are engaged to prosper the industries and ensure workers are not shortchanged,” he said
The Director-General, state Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, Mr Stephen Odo, said that plans were also in the pipeline to revive the Ezzamgbo Pipe Production Company, Abakiliki Rice Mill, building materials, and perforisation plants.
Odo, a former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, said that government was committed to resuscitating the industries to complement the civil and public service sectors in job creation.
He said the plan would encourage the private sector in the state to play its role by driving job creation and employment.
A resident, Mr Pius Ogbonnaya, said that reviving the old factories would bring back thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities for local residents and increase state’s revenue generation capacity.
In Anambra, the Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, said the State Government was not considering revamping any moribund state-owned industry.
Mefor told NAN that Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration was interested in evolving a business environment that would be conducive for private sector investments.
He said the government was working on the Anambra Aerotropolis, a cluster of industries driven by aviation with a cargo airport at the core.
According to him, the Anambra Mixed Industrial City, under construction, already has Free Trade Zone status approval.
“State corporations we had in the state, like AVOP, died long ago before this government came into office.
“The economic and development philosophy of the governor does not favour state-owned corporations.
“He has insisted that before he can go that route, there should be evidence of such an investment that is thriving anywhere,” Mefor said.
He said, “Soludo, who is an economist of international repute, wants the state to be an enabler of industrialisation by providing the environment for businesses to thrive.
“The emphasis is on providing electricity, gas, security and other enablers that support private sector-driven economy,” he said. (NAN).
General News
NNPC announces nationwide N66 fuel discount for fuel bought through app

By Our Reporter
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has commenced a nationwide promotional campaign offering customers a ₦66 discount on fuel purchases made through its NNPC Fuel App.
The promotion, which began on October 1, will run until October 7 at NNPC filling stations across the country.
NNPC announced the initiative in a post on its X handle on Friday, saying customers had already started taking advantage of the offer at various stations.
“The ₦66 Discount Promo is ongoing & the excitement is already happening across our stations nationwide!
“All over Nigeria, our customers are getting in on the action & there’s still time for you to benefit!
The promo runs from 1–7 October on the NNPC Fuel App,” the post read.
The company said activities had commenced at several of its stations nationwide, with highlights from the first day of the promotion shared with the public.
NNPC urged motorists and other customers to continue using the Fuel App for their transactions throughout the seven-day campaign in order to benefit from the discount.
“Keep fueling, keep transacting and keep your eyes on our pages,” the post read.
The national oil company also said it would continue to release pictures and updates from participating stations as the promotion progresses.
Customers have been advised to take advantage of the offer before the promotional period ends on October 7.
The ₦66 discount applies to eligible transactions made through the NNPC Fuel App during the promotion.
General News
Hardship: Public servants begin three-day warning strike

By Our Reporter
Public servants across Nigeria have commenced a three-day warning strike following a directive by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council over what the workers described as worsening economic and mental hardship.
The industrial action, which began at midnight on Friday, October 2, 2026, is expected to run through Sunday, October 4.
The council directed its national and state leadership to mobilise workers for the action, with the directive contained in a circular dated October 1 and signed by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC, Olowoyo Gbenga.
The circular urged the council’s leadership to ensure that the strike notice reached workers across the country.
The decision, according to the council, followed the Federal Government’s alleged failure to respond to demands earlier presented to President Bola Tinubu in a letter dated September 21, 2026.
READ ALSO:Unions reject TUC suspension of strike, demand reversal of King’s College concession
Explaining the commencement of the industrial action, the council stated, “Consequent upon the above, the strike shall start with effect from midnight on Friday, 2nd October, 2026 to Sunday October 4th, 2026.”
The council called on public servants at the federal, state and local government levels to participate in the warning strike, saying the action was aimed at drawing attention to the economic difficulties confronting workers and their dependants.
It stated, “In the same vein, all public servants in the services of federal, state and local governments are to join the warning strike because an injury to one is an injury to all, most especially, all workers, their dependants, vulnerable and hapless Nigerians are groaning terribly under the present economic hardship.”
The JNPSNC further expressed concern over the impact of the economic situation on workers, saying, “The economic and mental hardships are becoming unbearable and frustrating.”
It also directed its leaders to commence immediate mobilisation for the industrial action, declaring, “The time to act and mobilise workers for the three-day warning strike is now!!!”
The warning strike comes against the backdrop of demands earlier submitted by the council to the Federal Government for measures to ease the pressure of rising living costs on workers.
Among the demands were a reduction in the price of petrol, an immediate wage award for workers and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.
The council had reportedly asked the Federal Government to bring down the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre, approve an immediate wage award and constitute a tripartite committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage.
The demands followed continued concerns over the declining purchasing power of workers amid increases in the prices of essential commodities, transportation and other household needs.
In its latest circular, the council urged its members to circulate the strike notice and expressed optimism about the outcome of the industrial action.
“Please, disseminate the information!!! Surely, there is victory for us!!!” the circular added.
The council maintained that the warning strike would proceed as scheduled, with public servants across the federal, state and local government services expected to take part.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Ministry of Labour were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
General News
Olokoro Community Eulogises NDPHC MD/CEO Adighije for School Renovation, Development Projects
Johnchuks Onuanyim, Abuja
The people of Olokoro Clan in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State have showered encomiums on the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Engr. Jennifer Adighije, for executing key development projects in the community, including the comprehensive renovation of a block of classrooms at Boys Secondary School, Umuoparazara.
The community described the projects as landmark interventions that have not only improved learning conditions for students but also reinforced Adighije’s commitment to grassroots development and community service.
Speaking during the commissioning of the projects on Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration, community leaders, traditional rulers, women groups and youth organisations hailed Adighije as a worthy ambassador of Olokoro whose contributions have brought honour and development to the clan.
The projects commissioned include the renovation of a classroom block at Boys Secondary School, Umuoparazara Olokoro, and the landscaping and installation of modern 3D flooring at the Olokoro Clan Headquarters Complex in Ahiaukwu.
The event attracted a large gathering of traditional rulers, government representatives, community stakeholders and indigenes who turned out to celebrate what many described as a historic day for the clan.
In his remarks, the Federated President-General of the Olokoro Clan Development Union (OCDU), Dr. Odinakachi Umekwe, commended Adighije for her dedication to the welfare of her people and for consistently identifying with the aspirations of the community.
He noted that the renovation of the school facility would significantly improve the learning environment for students and contribute to educational development in the area.
Umekwe urged community members to safeguard and maintain the facilities, while offering prayers for greater accomplishments in Adighije’s public service career.
Speaking shortly before commissioning the renovated classroom block, Adighije attributed the successful execution of the projects to God’s grace and the productive partnership between the community and government institutions.
She assured the people that her intervention in the school would not end with the renovation, announcing plans to undertake solar electrification of the classroom block as the next phase of support.
According to her, quality education remains critical to community development and nation-building, stressing that investments in educational infrastructure are investments in the future of young people.
She also pledged to continue collaborating with the leadership of the OCDU to identify and execute additional projects that would improve the living conditions of residents.
The community further applauded the NDPHC boss for her contributions to youth empowerment, employment opportunities and other initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic wellbeing of Olokoro people.
Traditional rulers, women leaders, youth representatives and elders who spoke at the event described Adighije as a role model and a source of inspiration to younger generations, noting that her achievements in engineering, public service and community development have made the clan proud.
In an emotional response during a grand reception held in her honour at the Olokoro Clan Headquarters, Adighije thanked the people for their overwhelming support and goodwill.
She reaffirmed her commitment to serving humanity and promoting the development of Olokoro, assuring residents that she would continue to contribute her quota to the progress of the community whenever the opportunity arises.
Her father, Senator Chris Adighije, also expressed gratitude to the people of Olokoro for the honour accorded his family and pledged continued support for initiatives that would advance the development of the clan.
The event featured cultural performances by students of Boys Secondary School, Umuoparazara, and was attended by prominent traditional rulers, community leaders, women groups, youth organisations and other stakeholders from across Olokoro Clan.
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