NSUKKA—The people of Aji community in Enugu-Ezike, Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, are grumbling over the poor condition of their community secondary school buildings. The Aji High School, which was built through communal effort in the 70s, is in ruins as all the six buildings in the compound are dilapidated and not conducive for learning.

ENUGU—The Enugu State House of Assembly, Tuesday last week, threw out the Equal Rights and Opportunities for men and women and Other Matters Related Thereto Bill sponsored by a female legislator, claiming that the bill was another way of introducing gay marriage in the state. The bill, sponsored by Dame Lydia Nkechi Omeje-Ogbu (Nsukka West Constituency) and House Committee Chairman on Gender Affairs, had scaled the first reading before suffering a setback as most members kicked viciously against it.

Former Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

UMUAHIA—IT was a pitiable sight watching little Miss Chinaemerem Ochinihu Ikeri lay painfully on her hospital bed at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Umuahia, Abia State. She could not talk, but only stared and gnashed her teeth continually. Chinaemerem, a pupil of Ubakala Community Primary School II, who hails from Oyimo in Ubakala, Umuahia South Council Area was said to have been knocked down by an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in the state, who later abandoned her in hospital over eight months ago.

TENSION built up in Oporoza, Okerenkoko and other Gbaramatu-Ijaw riverine communities in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, following the announcement by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday that government had deployed more troops to the Niger Delta region to tackle pipeline vandals.

LAGOS— FORMER Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki, has called for the urgent privatisation of the nation’s refineries, saying the option of Turn-Around-Maintenance, TAM, has remained a distraction over the years.

EBONYI State government yesterday recalled the Special Adviser to Governor David Umahi on Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, Chief Jeremiah Oketa for alleged involvement in fraudulent practices.

KANO—Kano Lebanese community was thrown into mourning yesterday, following the death of its senior citizen fondly called Baba at his fortified residence located at Unity Road, Kano Central Business District.

THE Abia State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr Bamidele Akingbade has announced plans to send narcotic officers to local governments in Abia to check drug prevalence in communities.

ABUJA— In a daring tone, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, yesterday, stunned the nation with a declaration that senior lawyers in the country were hampering the fight against corruption.