Author: Odimegwu Onwumere

The soldiers disembarked from numerous trucks upon arrival in Oyigbo, assuming a combat-ready stance, and began shooting indiscriminately at innocent residents. They claimed to be there to retrieve firearms stolen from six of their fallen colleagues, who were killed by criminals exploiting the EndSARS protest against police brutality. The ensuing violence resulted in numerous civilian casualties, with many succumbing to military gunfire and others sustaining injuries in what later became known as the #OyigboMassacre. Amid escalating tensions, a significant number of individuals sought refuge in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, as well as neighboring Imo State and Abia…

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In spite of various assurances made by successive Nigerian governments to put an end to gas flaring, their failure to do so leads to the release of harmful pollutants that negatively impact both humans and the environment in the country. This, in turn, contributes to climate change, as explored by ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE The middle-aged lady is running in the street of Diamond Estate, Umuebulu-Etche, Rivers state with her child. The neighbors are concerned about the reason for her haste. “The weather is extremely hot and all three of my children are suffering from cough. To make matters worse, our house…

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In the first part of the series, ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE examined the improper finances that have put the Nigerian airline at risk. In part two, he discusses the recent discovery of a significant amount of water in the fuel tanks of some aircraft. This discovery has raised safety concerns in the industry. In the concluding part, he urges the authorities to prioritize organizing the aviation industry before enforcing insurance requirements. This is because operators in the country pay higher premiums compared to their foreign counterparts and also have to deal with the challenge of paying in dollars while using the local currency, which…

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In part one of the series, ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE examined the improper finances that have jeopardized the Nigerian airline. In part two, he discusses the recent discovery of a significant amount of water in the fuel tank of some aircrafts. This discovery has raised safety concerns within the industry The warning issued by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) in 2022 regarding potential disruptions to flight schedules at all airports in the country due to an escalating jet fuel crisis has now become a reality in 2023. On July 22, 2022, the AON issued a statement warning about the possibility of…

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In this report, ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE examines the obstacles that Nigerian carriers encounter in their progress, particularly due to the stringent managerial strategies and rental conditions. Nigerian aircraft pay a credit expense of 26%, while foreign carriers do so at a rate of only 2%. Consequently, this situation has created a terrifying work environment for administrators and airport workers, resulting in unfavorable conditions Nigerian flight attendants went on strike for two days on April 17, 2023, blocking the streets leading to the Lagos airport’s domestic terminal. As they protested against wages and working conditions, this caused traffic delays and disrupted trips. Global spectators…

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One powerful person in Borno State who is devoted to bringing peace back to the badly damaged state is Governor Babagana Zulum. He will stop at nothing to protect his people from the rebels who carry out crimes like murder, sexual assault, and destruction—even if it means risking his own life to do so. Governor Zulum has openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the security authorities for their insufficient efforts in addressing the crisis, which has led to more than 80,000 deaths and rendered over 2.9 million individuals homeless. However, he has also commended them on certain occasions. Borno, a state…

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Youths are facing both unemployment and underemployment, and experts are stressing the need for immediate interventions to address the growing issue of youth unemployment. They warn that young individuals who solely depend on traditional schools for their livelihoods are likely to suffer, but should instead embrace the acquisition of competitive skills. ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE reports that Nestle can provide such opportunities Yusuf A., a member of the Department of Business Administration at a polytechnic, states that the main goal for all graduates is to obtain a well-paying job upon completing their studies. However, this hope is shattered even after fulfilling the obligatory National…

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Experts are working hard to address the increasing expenses associated with the treatment of non-communicable illnesses like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE states that they are accomplishing this goal by providing dietary supplements that can be included in meals to help regulate blood glucose levels A diabetic patient, who wished to remain anonymous, informed our reporter in Port Harcourt that diabetes management in Nigeria is growing in significance, as personal experience has shown that not all individuals with diabetes are fortunate. “Based on my personal experience, it is evident that diabetes management in Nigeria is becoming an increasingly significant issue.…

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Women in Nigeria experience a range of violence, including sexual harassment, physical violence, harmful traditional practices, emotional and psychological violence, socio-economic violence, and violence against non-combatant women during conflicts. In this report, ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE explores how despite these challenges, there are numerous organizations and individuals dedicated to meeting the needs of women through the creation of empowerment programs that focus on political, social, and economic empowerment for the betterment of the nation She declined to provide her name due to the stigma associated with it. Therefore, Amina, a middle-aged woman, was one of the numerous women and girls who experienced…

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The government’s reliance on fossil fuel contributes to climate change, according to ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE. He examines experts’ concerns about Nigeria’s need to transition to renewable energy, which Nestle Nigeria focuses on to implement global green policies and promote change Our reporter’s journey to this historic city in the South-South region of Nigeria was not intended for those easily frightened. On Monday, October 2, 2023, an inferno erupted in an adjacent oil tank as a result of a makeshift refinery, leading to severe burns for certain individuals and the tragic loss of over 18 lives, including that of a pregnant woman, in Emohua.…

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“Untreated or inadequately controlled hypertension can prompt different entanglements because of the requirement for blood in all parts of the body. Hypertension opens all regions to high tension, prompting harmed and convoluted supply routes to spill from debilitated and amplified conduit walls, called aneurysms,” Dr. Olatokunbo Oseni, a family doctor and Head Medical Director at the College of Lagos Medical Center, Akoka, warns. This warning applies not only to women or men but also to children. Specialists are concerned about the increasing cases of hypertension in children, which they attribute to the consumption of fast food. They believe that obese…

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The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) has brought to our attention an article we published online titled “Despite Misinformation, Biotech Is Weathering Obstacles.” They described it as a “nice article” but also mentioned that Dr. Yemi, who we mentioned in the article, was their previous Executive Director, whose tenure ended in July 2023. The email directive from a FARA official stated that the current Executive Director is Dr. Aggrey Agumya (X – @aggreyagumya). The email read, “This is to thank you for the nice article titled “Despite Misinformation, Biotech Is Weathering Obstacles”, which mentions the Forum for Agricultural…

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A rise in racial violence targeting migrants from sub-Saharan Africa has resulted in African migrants being stranded in Tunisia. This occurred after Tunisian President Kais Saied delivered a provocative speech that intensified xenophobia. ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE’s report reveals that these individuals often face mistreatment and are at risk of being coerced into modern slavery. Furthermore, many have sadly lost their lives while trying to flee assaults at the border between Tunisia and Libya He is a migrant worker from Sierra Leone who arrived in Tunisia as a political refugee. He was one of the numerous individuals stranded in makeshift tents, their bags hastily…

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After Being Ousted From the 2022 World Cup Football experts across the country are addressing significant problems plaguing Nigerian football that need to be resolved in order to break the cycle of stagnation following Nigeria’s loss in the 2022 World Cup. ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE highlights in this report that experts are focusing on regulations and framework, while others believe it is time to remove the “lackluster officials” from the country’s football board and give the game the fresh air it needs to flourish After their defeat in the 2022 World Cup, the Nigerian national men’s football team faced inquiries about the future of Nigerian…

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Despite being taken to prison or having their homes attacked by armed gangs, the migrants did not desire to return to their respective countries. However, they were forced to do so due to the injuries sustained from beatings and illnesses contracted while in Libyan detention centers. Furthermore, they were treated negligently, similar to animals, ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE Instead of being the subject of a viral video that circulated on the internet in July of this year, featuring an unidentified deceased woman at a migrant Libyan detention center, Jamilu Yusef excitedly began a trip from Mitiga airport in Tripoli to Lagos, Nigeria on…

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Biotechnology is currently facing controversial challenges due to merchants of misinformation, but the importance of Genetic Modification in advancing agriculture cannot be overstated. ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE examines that biotechnology is now viewed as a necessity rather than a choice Despite the difficulties encountered by Nigeria’s agricultural sector, including inadequate irrigation, climate change, land degradation, limited market access, insufficient funding, post-harvest losses, technological limitations, high production costs, and inadequate resource distribution, Dr. Emmanuel Okogbenin, the Director of Programme Development and Commercialisation at AATF, emphasized the significance of providing strong support for agricultural biotechnology to effectively utilize it for improving crop productivity.  “It should be…

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Attempts made by previous Nigerian administrations to remove the fuel subsidy led to protests and strong opposition, including from the current President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Upon assuming office on May 29, Tinubu’s government decided to abolish the fuel subsidy in Nigeria, despite his previous criticism of then-President Goodluck Jonathan for doing the same in 2012 without considering the challenges faced by Nigerians who rely on fuel for their daily economic activities. The increase in fuel prices affects all sectors of the economy. Tinubu was aware of the non-functioning state of Nigeria’s refineries, which necessitated the continuous importation of refined petroleum.…

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The global economy is currently experiencing a change where industries that have traditionally relied on manual labor are now becoming “smart” factories in developed countries. ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE examines in this report that African economies are facing significant challenges in developing their manufacturing abilities, especially in labor-intensive sectors, and are struggling to adopt technologies for international technological trade. This article argues that weak institutions in many developing countries, particularly the least developed ones, are hindering their ability to use international trade and investment to improve their technological capabilities. As a result, these countries with limited technological capacities are falling behind in the ongoing…

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The Nigerian governments that have followed one another have created barriers for local content. In this regard, ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE analyzes the obstacles it needs to overcome in global trade, including the expensive nature of conducting business and the necessity of duplicating vital infrastructure. The article discusses the existence of criminal activities that demand security measures, corruption, and the absence of an effective legal system. The article promotes the importance of transparent economic decision-making, especially in government acquisition of goods and services A confused young man, who had ventured into international trade by importing goods like cars into the country, stood at the…

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It is believed that the major and most significant factor in the energy sector is that Nigeria has made a significant stride towards developing gas utilization and penetration in the country through “Nigeria’s Decade of Gas.” Notwithstanding, ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE reports that there are as yet a few difficulties to the upswing, going from guideline issues, cost of establishment, issues with facilities, and a lot more that are making citizens purchase cooking gas through their noses at an unregulated cost He was not tongue-in-cheek to inform the citizens to brace up for the skyrocketing costs of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) commonly called cooking…

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Armed gangs and organizations that regularly abduct, rob, kill, and rape children, in Nigeria: young people and women are becoming more prevalent.  ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE examines that since 2009, when Boko Haram began its campaign with the aim of destroying Nigeria’s secular government and establishing an Islamic state, more than 35,000 people have died Among the more than 100 individuals who perished when the boat capsized on the River Niger in the central region were women. They strived to guarantee their existence, but the ones who made it through credited the high number of women casualties during the capsizing of the vessel…

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ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE investigates UNESCO’s projection that Nigeria will experience a decline in the number of spoken languages (Native Tongues) by 2025. The piece explores the accuracy of the forecast while highlighting the significance of preserving people’s cultural heritage and traditions embedded in their native tongue Nigeria is a nation with a plethora of tongues, encompassing an approximate range of 350 to 550 regional or native dialects dispersed among its nearly 250 ethnic communities. Those who are in the know say these dialects, whether they are considered significant or not, are linked through diverse vernaculars. According to Ethnologue, an annual record on…

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Nigeria: A Country Suffering From Prejudice Towards Individuals With Disabilities Around 25 million people in Nigeria experience some form of disability, and the Disability Act mandates that five percent of employment should be reserved for them. Nevertheless, despite the legislation, individuals with disabilities are struggling to be heard or hired, resulting in their human rights being violated. ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE provides an account of this situation The integration of individuals with disabilities (popularly referred to as People With Disabilities (PWDs) into Nigeria’s mainstream job market is a topic of concern for many compassionate Nigerians. Despite the enactment of the Disability Act by former…

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10 Years After, Soot Still Occupies The Air Of Rivers State In this report, ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE looks at how the damage caused by soot has affected residents of Rivers States for almost a decade. In a way that is not straightforward and that is simple for everyone to comprehend, the report reveals how the crisis is gradually killing residents Everyone had become enraged by December of that year when it became unbearable, and they began discussing it: something others argued started by the end of 2015. Some said it was in 2011. “The frightening thing about the soot is that it has…

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During my upbringing, I was instructed that men who physically harm their wives, their male offspring would assume that it is acceptable to mistreat women. Moreover, I was taught that when a man passes away owing a debt, his children must pay it. I am not using this information to excuse any inappropriate actions or conduct. Absolutely not. However, through time, we have discovered that some individuals who pursue a cause may not do so of their own volition, but rather as a result of what they learned from history. For example, the Nigerian/Biafran civil war, with it, positive and…

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ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE investigates in this article that in spite of the directive from the police top brass instructing their officers not to check someone’s phone, except the phone is marked as evidence in a legal proceeding, police officials persist in flouting this regulation and believe that nothing will happen. The article however tracks that even after the #EndSARs movement, these illegal demands by police staff to scrutinize the cell phones and personal computers of Nigerian citizens have led to unwarranted fatalities, extortion, unlawful imprisonments, and harassment On the evening of September 6, 2022, Theophilus Blamoh and two of his acquaintances were…

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The field of journalism has undergone significant transformations in recent times. According to experts, the traditional print media is facing severe challenges due to the emergence of the internet. In an attempt to survive, newspapers are downsizing and reducing expenses, while magazines are shifting their focus to online platforms. Nevertheless, for individuals who have a keen interest in writing and a nose for news, journalism remains a promising career option. However, Comrade Stanley Job Stanley and Ikechukwu Wigodo, who were re-elected as Chairman and Secretary of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for a second term of three…

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It is misleading and falsehood of an aide in the President Buhari government, Femi Adesina, to express in a public presentation that government itself doesn’t create jobs for the citizens but however establishes an empowering environment that leaves the private sector with job creation, ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE examines President Muhammadu Buhari, who had less than 23 days to leave office, pleaded with the unsuspecting public for forgiveness in a well-publicized speech on April 21, 2023, noting that his government from 2015 to 2023 fell short of the expectations of Nigerians who once regarded him as Mr. Integrity and believed he would lead the country well.…

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Examining Two Statements Regarding Kenya’s Denial and Nigeria’s Reluctance to Address “Extraordinary Rendition” Kenya’s immigration and strategic specialists denied information on the capture and extradition of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, who was caught on Kenyan soil and taken to Nigeria. Not minding that Kanu was a British citizen by naturalization, Alexander Muteshi, Director-General of Immigration Services in Kenya, dismissed cases involving the country’s contribution to Kanu’s capture and extradition to Nigeria. Besides, a delegate from Kenya’s Ministry of Interior stated that they had no information regarding Kanu’s extradition to Nigeria. In a public…

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The utilization of AI technology in identifying cough sounds has been advantageous for medical practitioners and patients in foreign countries, easing the strain on medical facilities. ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE in contrast, reports that in Nigeria, pulmonary evaluations require laboratory procedures like X-rays, CT scans, and comparable assessments to determine lung condition The practice of Nigerians relying on listening to heartbeats to diagnose coughs may become obsolete, as medical professionals and patients are attesting to the significance of cough detectors. They observed that the act of coughing is a prevalent indication of varying respiratory ailments. The quality and sound of the cough are crucial…

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