History's Eye

  As the use of the old naira notes is gradually returning in Awka, following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive to banks to issue and receive the old notes, long queues for withdrawal have persisted. The Supreme Court on March 3, ordered that the old N200, N500, N1,000 notes remain legal tender and would be in circulation till Dec. 31. A check at some banks at Zik’s Avenue, UNIZIK Junction, Regina and Aroma areas of Awka, on Friday, saw many people on queues waiting patiently to withdraw the new or old naira notes from their accounts. It was discovered that some of the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in major parts of Awka, were not dispensing naira notes while there were long queues at few ATMs dispensing. although many banks in Awka were paying customers between N3,000 and N5,000, over the counter, some complained about shortage of cash to pay. A bank official, who pleaded anonymity, said that there was scarcity of cash because of too many cash withdrawals and zer...

  The Anambra State Government says it detected more than 8,000 Tuberculosis (TB), cases against the targeted 13,000 cases in the state in 2022. Dr Afam Obidike, state's Commissioner for Health, gave the statistics at a news conference to mark 2023 World Tuberculosis Day, in Awka on Friday. World TB Day, is commemorated every March 24, to build public awareness that tuberculosis remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths of nearly one-and-a-half million people each year. Obidike said : According to the World Health Organisation, about half of all people with TB can be found in eight countries including Nigeria. This is not a good report, hence, we need to intensify efforts to reverse the trend. " This is why Gov. Chukwuma Soludo's administration has remained focus in making sure that TB programme is given all the necessary attention to end the scourge in our time. "For the past one year, the TB programme has detected more than 8,000 TB cases against...

The Anambra State Government said it rescued a 12-year-old girl alongside her two younger siblings from their father, Arinze Obiwenite, who alledgedly defiles her. Mrs Ify Obinabo, the state's Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, told newsmen on Saturday in Awka that the children were rescued on Monday, during a raid at Abacha town in Idemili North Local Government Area, following a tip off. Obinabo said she visited the Traditional Ruler of Abacha community, Igwe Nwabunwanne Odiegwu, to notify him of the raid before taking action. She said that during the visit, Igwe Odiegwu revealed that the accused, Obiwenite, presented himself as a Christian who helped people solved their spiritual problems without knowing that he had other motives. "The traditional ruler told us he knew about Obiwenite's alledged escapees when he accused some young boys in the community of raping his daughter. "He was summoned to the palace on several occasions to state his case, but f...