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Fresh COVID-19 case sparks debate

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The report of a fresh case of COVID-19 in Cross River State, South South Nigeria was discussed on Thursday in the Senate.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio directed a comprehensive investigation into case.

The former Akwa Ibom governor  spoke at the close of the day’s plenary as the Cross River State government debunked reports that there were 10 new cases of COVID-19 in the state.

The Senate President mandated the Committee on Health to urgently examine the situation.

The committee, chaired by Ipalibo Harry Banigo, is expected to investigate the reported case and present its findings at the next legislative sitting.

“I understand that COVID has broken out in one of our states. I don’t know how far this is true, but I’ve been told that COVID has come back,” Akpabio said.

The Senate President urged relevant authorities to verify the information and brief the Red Chamber.

His directive followed reports of an isolated COVID-19 case in Cross River State. The report raised concerns over surveillance, testing, and response capacity.

Health authorities are said to be monitoring the situation closely, amid calls for heightened vigilance and adherence to public health guidelines.

Lawmakers said the probe would assess the public health response, the preparedness of health institutions, and measures needed to contain any potential spread.

In Cross River State, the Ministry of Health confirmed that a COVID-19 patient at the state’s isolation centre, a Chinese, was in a stable condition.

Speaking with our correspondent yesterday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, said: “As I explained to The Nation in our last interview, the patient is responding to treatment and in a good condition.”

But the state government debunked a report by a national daily and an online publication that 10 new patients exhibiting the COVID-19 symptoms had been recorded in the state.

It described the reports as “misleading and inconsistent with the state’s current public health records”.

In an official rejoinder yesterday, the health ministry stated: “The state still has only one confirmed case of COVID-19, with no additional infections recorded.”

The commissioner explained that the 10 individuals referenced in the report were contacts of the confirmed case, identified through routine contact tracing, and not new or suspected infections.

“As clearly communicated on April 21, there are no additional confirmed cases in Cross River State,” the ministry said.

The ministry explained that none of the identified contacts was exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID-19, emphasising that they do not fall under the category of suspected or confirmed cases.

To ensure public understanding, the ministry outlined key distinctions: contacts are individuals who have had close interactions with a confirmed case; suspected cases are those showing symptoms; while confirmed cases are individuals who have tested positive through laboratory diagnosis.

In line with standard public health protocols, the identified contacts have been placed under home isolation and are being monitored daily by health officials for any signs of the virus.

The ministry added: “This is purely a preventive measure and does not indicate any new infections.”

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Two APC states reschedule governorship primaries

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PRESS STATEMENT

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the rescheduling of its Governorship Primary Elections in Bauchi State and Kwara State to Friday, May 22, 2026.

In the same vein, the party has approved a new date for the State House of Assembly Primary Elections in Maradun I and Maradun II constituencies of Zamfara State, which will now hold on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

The decision was ratified by the National Working Committee (NWC) after consultations with critical stakeholders as part of efforts to guarantee a transparent, peaceful, orderly, and credible primary election process.

The party reiterated its commitment to upholding internal democracy and ensuring the successful conduct of all primary elections ahead of the forthcoming polls.

Signed:

Felix Morka

National Publicity Secretary

All Progressives Congress (APC)

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Abia moves closer to energy independence

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The Governor of Abia State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to achieving energy independence and expanding access to reliable electricity across the state following a high-level meeting with the leadership of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

The governor disclosed this after receiving the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Jennifer Adighije, alongside members of her management team during a courtesy visit to his office.

During the meeting, the governor praised the successful revival of the Alaoji Power Plant in Aba, describing the development as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to guarantee stable and uninterrupted electricity supply in the state.

According to him, the restoration of operations at the plant represents a critical milestone in strengthening power generation and supporting industrial growth, particularly within the Aba economic corridor.

He revealed that the Alaoji Power Plant currently dispatches approximately 375 megawatts of electricity to the national grid, while expansion plans are already underway to increase output capacity to nearly 800 megawatts, with long-term projections targeting up to 1,100 megawatts.

The governor noted that electricity remains central to his administration’s broader economic transformation agenda, stressing that sustainable power supply is essential for industrialization, job creation, healthcare delivery, education, and overall social development.

He explained that since assuming office, his government has implemented strategic reforms aimed at repositioning the power sector within the state. These reforms include the ring-fencing of the Aba industrial cluster to ensure more efficient electricity management and the ongoing process to acquire the Umuahia electricity axis of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

According to the governor, the measures are designed to place electricity generation, regulation, and distribution substantially under the control of the state government, thereby enabling faster decision-making and improved service delivery.

He expressed optimism that deeper collaboration between Abia State and NDPHC would make it possible to wheel electricity directly from the Alaoji facility to the remaining eight local government areas outside the Aba corridor.

The planned expansion, he said, would ensure that homes, schools, hospitals, and industries across the state gain access to reliable and affordable power supply.

The governor further emphasized that improved electricity infrastructure would significantly boost economic productivity, attract investors, strengthen small and medium-scale enterprises, and enhance the quality of life for residents.

Reaffirming his administration’s vision, he declared that Abia State is prepared to lead Nigeria’s push toward subnational energy independence through strategic partnerships, infrastructure investments, and sector reforms.

He added that the state government remains committed to building a power ecosystem capable of driving industrial production, supporting innovation, and sustaining long-term prosperity for the people of Abia.

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Obidient Movement ex mobilization director apologises to Obi, supporters 

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A former Director of Mobilization of the Obidient Movement, Morris Monye, has issued a public apology to supporters of the movement and to Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over a controversial resignation letter he previously released.

In an open letter addressed to members of the Obidient Movement, Monye admitted that he acted out of “frustration and immaturity” when he published the resignation letter, which he said contained statements that unfairly targeted Obi.
According to him, the remarks did not reflect the values of accountability and constructive engagement associated with the movement.
“I allowed deep frustration and personal emotions to cloud my judgment. I made statements that subtly and unnecessarily dragged Peter Obi, a man I still respect for his vision, integrity, and sacrifice for this nation. That was wrong,” he stated.
Monye accepted full responsibility for the letter, stressing that no one influenced or edited his comments before publication. Although he later deleted the letter, he acknowledged that the action had already caused disappointment and loss of trust among supporters.
The former mobilization director also apologized directly to Obi and members of the Obidient Movement, especially young supporters who he said remained committed to the vision of a better Nigeria despite political challenges.
“To Peter Obi himself, Sir, I am sincerely sorry. My words were not a true reflection of the values of sacrifice, accountability, and constructive criticism that you preach,” he wrote.
He further noted that he was not seeking a return to any position within the movement, adding that his apology was motivated by a sense of responsibility and the need to own up to his mistakes.
Monye said he understood that trust could only be rebuilt through consistent actions over time and appealed for forgiveness from members of the movement.
He ended the letter on a lighter note, urging supporters to move forward in unity while reaffirming his commitment to the struggle for a better Nigeria.
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