News

Outrage As Anambra Begins Demolition For Road Expansion

Published

1 year ago

April 18, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Government has sparked widespread outrage following the demolition of structures along the Nnewi-Owerri Road as part of an ongoing road expansion project.

The operation, led by the state’s Physical and Building Control Agency, began on Wednesday in Nnewi, affecting hundreds of buildings, shops, and businesses, most notably a partial demolition of the head office of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing.

Videos from the scenes showed how the affected buildings were rendered useless while the owners were seen lamenting the loss.

The demolition exercise has, however, sparked off a chain of reactions and counter-reactions, both among the affected landlords, concerned authorities, and social media users.

While the affected persons insisted they were not properly notified, others accused the authorities of bias, alleging that the perimeter fence of a church (name withheld) was deliberately left out even though it was conspicuously blocking a drainage channel.

Speaking to The PUNCH in Nnewi, on Friday, one of the affected landlords, Chief Emenike Gabriel, said, “We were not properly notified about this demolition. They did not carry out the exercise with due diligence.

“Some of these buildings have been existing for over 70 years. They said they marked the buildings for demolition, but most people did not know that their buildings were marked for demolition, and if it was marked, they should have given us time to relocate.”

“There is no point to politicize the demolition exercise particularly that of Innoson Motors because the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo is the only governor nationwide that uses made-in-Nigeria vehicles. Chief Innoson is our man; anybody trying to create a wrong narrative about the demolition exercise does not mean well.”

Also expressing displeasure over the partial demolition of it’s head office, the Head of Corporate Communications at Innoson Group, Cornel Osigwe, on Friday, insisted there was no pre-notification notice before the demolition on Wednesday.

Osigwe disclosed that the office perimeter fence, some offices, the staircase and the company’s showroom were affected by the partial demolition.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

51 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.