​By Chiekezie Emmanuel

​The Vice-Chancelor, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Prof Aloysius-Michaels OKolie has flagged off the construction of the School Park Road and appreciated the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for his intervention.

​The groundbreaking event took place on Monday at the construction site at the School Park, Agbani Main Campus.

​

Speaking during inspection of the work at the site, Prof. Aloysius Michaels Okolie accompanied by the management team, stated that construction of the Park Road is the actualization of His Excellency Governor Mbah’s mandate, which he gave on 19th November 2024 during the convocation ceremony

​”The students who were present at the Peter Mbah Auditorium during the convocation will recall that he promised to construct this road. So, we have been doing follow-ups. About three weeks ago, the matter came up again, and we discussed it exhaustively. And there and then, he approved that the road should be constructed immediately.

​”As the approval was conveyed to us, we conveyed it to the contractor. And the contractor immediately mobilized to the site that weekend, because we told him the next day, ‘You must complete this project in eight weeks,’ because convocation is around the corner, so that His Excellency will commission the project.

​”I think what we didn’t put in the component of the project is to ensure that we have proper lighting from the entrance point to the end of the road  because we have been receiving information about thefts along this axis.

​”It is now left for the management to look for resources to install industrial solar lights on the road from this point down to the student hostel where the road starts. We will start looking for funds to do that. It will not be just any solar; it will be industrial solar. If you want to understand what we mean, go to Mechanical Metallurgical Engineering, where industrial solar was installed,” he said.

​Prof. Okolie emphasized that he is aware that students, commuters, and staff will be pleased with His Excellency. “Even when you are coming to work, you can dash in through this place, and use the road. And it is a straight road. The only thing is, I wouldn’t know whether it is good now to put some speed breakers as we are constructing, because I don’t know what will happen here.

​”The money for this project is already available. We are challenging the contractor: get to the milestone and collect the second tranche. The problem is not the money. They gave us the whole money complete. And we’ve given 30% of it. We are prepared to give another 30% anytime the consultant writes that they have reached the milestone. The important point is that we need quality work and speedy completion,” he emphasized.

​”The management is committed to doing much more. We need total support, not only for the management, but for His Excellency. We must accord him the respect he deserves. We must listen to him. And because he listens to us, we have to listen to him.

​”He is our master, and the Visitor to this university, and we are going to remain ever grateful to him for agreeing to this project. Do you think it is a one-kobo project? This is a ₦297 million project,” he asked.

​Also speaking, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Bonez Construction and Engineering Services Limited, Engr. Paschal Nwanne, stated that the construction will not exceed the completion deadline despite rainfall. “It cannot exceed eight weeks. That’s the understanding of what the contract has specified, and we are working towards that.”

​He assured quality and durability for the road, citing his 45 years of professional experience. “So, I’m not coming here to learn it,” he emphasized.

​”As a matter of fact, that is an instruction we are going to take from the consultant, the designer. But I know that at the end of the day, we will come up with whatever is best for the project. We are considering two things: either to provide a T-junction from here so that it can always control the traffic, or to put a roundabout, as you have said. That will be at the discretion of the consultant and the client.”

Earlier in his speech, the Director of Physical Planning, ESUT, Professor Francis Iloeje, said the that construction of the road Mark a breakthrough after efforts in the past failed to yield success.

The Student Union Government President of Postgraduate Studies, Comrade Ahaonu Chidera, and the Undergraduate counterpart, Comrade Nwobodo Isaac, expressed appreciation to the Governor and the School Management for the construction of the road.

​”To the Vice-Chancellor, from the student community, we want to sincerely appreciate His Excellency, Gov. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the Visitor to our prestigious institution, for this kind gesture.”

Upon completion, the new 0.625km road will be named ” Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Access Road.

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By Amaechi Agbo and Chiekezie Emmauel

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has authorized the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) branch and 19 other universities to begin processes for industrial action over the alleged failure of the Federal Government and state governments to implement the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.

The decision, contained in the resolutions of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026, directs the affected branches to first issue a 14-day ultimatum before proceeding on strike to press home their demands.

A statement signed by ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, late Monday, announced that an emergency NEC meeting would be convened at the end of August or early September 2026 to take further decisions, ‘without prejudice to the decisions taken so far’.

The affected institutions are Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Gombe State University; Plateau State University, Bokkos; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Abia State University, Uturu and University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa.

Others are Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo; Kaduna State University; Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Northwest University Kano; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Imo State University; Niger Delta University; University of Africa, Toru-Orua; Bayelsa Medical University; and Taraba State University, Jalingo.

ASUU said the affected branches would embark on the strike after the expiration of the ultimatum, while noting that branches in the Sokoto Zone had already issued a two-week ultimatum.

The union said the decision was prompted by what it described as the “haphazard implementation” of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement and the “lackadaisical attitude” of the Federal Government towards releasing subvention needed to fully implement the agreement.

“NEC discussed the state of the struggle and noted that a significant milestone had been reached signing the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, but frowned at the haphazard implementation and lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government in the release of subvention to fully actualise the implementation of the said 2025 Agreement,” the statement reads.

It also expressed concern over the failure of visitors to several state-owned universities to implement the agreement, warning that the development was threatening the gains recorded following the signing of the agreement.

The union’s latest move suggests that the much-celebrated agreement, which was expected to bring a measure of stability to Nigeria’s troubled university system, is once again becoming a fl`ashpoint between the lecturers and government.

The Guardian reports that the pact, reached after more than 16 years of negotiations, was aimed at addressing lecturers’ welfare and the chronic underfunding of public universities. The agreement, signed in December 2025, was designed to end the cycle of disputes over conditions of service, remuneration and university funding.

A major provision was a 40 per cent upward review of academic staff remuneration, effective from January 1, 2026, with the Federal Government announcing in February that implementation of the increase had commenced.

At the centre of the accord is the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), which covers expenses relating to journal publications, membership of learned societies, conferences, internet access and books. The pact also introduced a new Professorial Cadre Allowance, with professors entitled to N1.74 million annually, or N145,000 monthly, while readers are to receive N840,000 annually, equivalent to N70,000 monthly.

The agreement further reviewed the Earned Academic Allowances, including payments for postgraduate supervision and other academic responsibilities, while providing for improved welfare and conditions of service.

Beyond remuneration, the agreement was intended to tackle wider challenges confronting Nigeria’s university system, including research, infrastructure, institutional development and staff welfare.

However, implementation has remained the major sticking point. ASUU has, in recent months, repeatedly accused the Federal Government and some state governments of failing to fully implement the pact. In May, the union lamented that some universities were only partially implementing the salary component, while other institutions had allegedly failed to implement it altogether.

ASUU also expressed concern over delays in constituting the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which it said was necessary to prevent bureaucratic delays and ensure compliance with the agreement.

The development raises the prospect of another major disruption in the university system if the outstanding issues are not resolved before the expiration of the two-week ultimatum.

The union’s latest resolution comes amid a series of other concerns raised at the NEC meeting, including controversial academic promotions and appointments. At the Federal University Lokoja, NEC commended the withdrawal of two professorial appointments following resistance and investigation by the branch, while at Federal University Wukari, it expressed concern over the promotion of a former registrar to the professorial cadre.

NEC subsequently mandated ASUU branches to resist the promotion of bursars and registrars who do not meet the professorial promotion criteria of their respective universities.

The union also raised alarm over worsening insecurity on university campuses, particularly incidents that had led to the killing of its members. It directed affected branches to petition the police and other security agencies and compile cases of insecurity for submission to the national leadership.

ASUU-ESUT Fixes Emergency Congress

This paper understands that the ASUU ESUT branch is currently mobilizing members for emergency congress on Thursday to ensure compliance with the NEC approval.

ESUT Monitor gathered authoritatively that while indefinite strikes have already commenced at Nasarawa State University (NSUK) and Imo State University, IMSU, ESUT’s emergency Congress will determine the next line of action

“We are planning an emergency congress on Thursday to enable us harmonize issues and take a stand. As I talk to you now, Nasarawa State University and Imo State University have all commenced indefinite strike. The outcome of the congress will determine our next line of action,” a source close to ASUU ESUT told this paper, pleading anonymity.

“All members of ASUU-ESUT Branch are hereby informed that a Very Important Congress will hold on Thursday, August 13, 2026 to take critical decisions on our poor condition of service and the welfare of the union.

“Attendance is mandatory for all members. No excuse will be entertained. Physical presence is strongly advised,” a message from ASUU ESUT Acting Chairperson, Dr Andrew Apeh read .

It could be recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, had issued a one month ultimatum to the Enugu State Government giving a deadline through the end of July 2026 to implement the 2025 ASUU/Federal Government agreement at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), or face an indefinite industrial unrest.

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The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) has indefinitely suspended two staff members of its Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering over their alleged involvement in cases of extortion and breaches of the university’s regulations.

In separate letters signed by the Registrar, Ambrose G. Ugwu, the university announced the indefinite suspension of Dr. Ojeh Collins and Engr. Emmanuel Eze following the report and recommendations of a committee set up to investigate the allegations.

According to the letter addressed to Dr. Ojeh Collins, the Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of the University Management, approved his indefinite suspension without pay with effect from July 20, 2026. The letter stated that the action followed the committee’s findings on his alleged involvement in reported cases of extortion and regulation breaches. He was directed to immediately hand over all university property in his possession to the Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

Similarly, Engr. Emmanuel Eze was suspended with effect from July 20, 2026, pending further investigation by the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee. The university said the suspension was based on the committee’s report and recommendations regarding his alleged involvement in the reported cases of extortion and regulation breaches. He was also directed to hand over all university property in his possession to the Head of Department.

In a related development, the university issued a warning to the Acting Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Dr. Princewill Ene.

A warning letter dated July 21, 2026, stated that the Vice-Chancellor, acting on the committee’s recommendations, directed that Dr. Ene be warned for poor monitoring of activities within and around the department during his tenure as Acting Head of Department.

The university cautioned that any further report against him on related matters would attract maximum sanctions in accordance with the institution’s existing regulations. All the letters were signed by the Registrar, Ambrose G. Ugwu.

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Enugu – The Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, and the People’s Republic of China, have initiated modalities for partnership in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, vocational education, new energy and digital economy.

The proposed partnership which was the outcome of healthy interactions between ESUT authorities and Chinese delegation led by the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Nigeria, Yan Yuqing will equally include cultural exchanges, research collaborations and staff and students exchange programmes.

Addressing ESUT Management, weekend, the Consul General Yan Yuqing who came in company of her Protocol Officer, Hua Yihe and the Director of Bilateral Relations, Xu Fan, described Enugu State as a City of hospitality and a modern City with great potentials and opportunities in business and agriculture.

The Consul General equally emphasized that the partnership with ESUT would include seminar opportunities for the staff of the University as well as training and scholarship opportunities for the students of ESUT through the Chinese Ministry of Education.

She further stated that China, leveraging on her technology advantage has announced zero tariff for all African products as a way of enhancing her diplomatic relations with Nigeria, adding that it would benefit businessmen, especially those from southern Nigeria.

In his response, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, who received the Chinese envoy along with principal and key officers of the University, stated that the visit was timely as the University was about to start Foreign Languages Department, adding that Chinese Language would be at the flagship of the department.

He said that the partnership would deepen staff and students exchange programmes especially in the area of experiential learning model being championed by His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State.

While thanking the Managing Director of Enugu State Investment and Development Authority, Hon. Kenechukwu Nnamani for leading the Chinese team to ESUT for collaboration, the Vice Chancellor noted that the focus of his administration was on hands-on learning and certification education model which would enhance the employability status of ESUT products.

Prof. Okolie pledged to explore the partnership agreement to enhance security in ESUT using the Chinese model, adding that it would equally help the Management to knock-off the University from the national grid and its attendant problem of frequent grid collapses.

He used the opportunity to announce that the University had already signed off 21 Memoranda of Understanding with other reputable institutions across the globe, adding the proposed partnership would be mutually-beneficial to both parties.

In order to enhance Chinese Friendship, the Vice Chancellor announced the desire of the Management to establish Chinese Village with its accompanying cultural centre in the University in order to network other southern states with Chinese culture

The post ESUT, China Explore Collaboration on AI, Vocational Education, Digital Economy appeared first on ESUT Monitor.

More than five years after Covid-19 ravaged the country’s economy and leading to many deaths, Nigeria has recorded a new case of the virus in Cross River State.

Speaking at a news conference in Calabar, on Tuesday, Dr Henry Ayuk, the state’s Commissioner for Health, said the case involved a Chinese national, who worked with Lafarge and flew into the country on March 17, before taking ill.

News AGency of Nigeria reports that the commissioner stated that the Chinese’ case became worse at the medical facility of his office and had to be taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

He explained that at the UCTH, his samples were taken and all protocols followed; it was subsequently confirmed that he had symptoms of COVID-19.

“We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” the commissioner said.

Ayuk asserted that the ministry of health had, however, been repositioned by the current administration, to handle and manage any situation – diseases or epidemic outbreaks.

According to him, unfortunately, there have been silent infections and clear cases from time to time.

“But we are determined that for every ailment, every disease or outbreak, if it is identified here in the state, there should be no alarm.

“The state will do well in terms of surveillance or containment of an outbreak. Whatever it is, we will do our best to contain it. So, there is no alarm.

“When this case was reported in about three or four days ago, we decided to be careful to confirm and ensure that the processes involved with identifying and confirming every case of COVID-19, are duly followed.

“The protocols have been followed and confirmed that a 53-year-old Chinese who work in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state has COVID-19,” he said.

On her part, Dr Inyang Ekpenyong, State Epidemiologist, announced that in response to the case, the state emergency response unit had been activated.

She, however, noted that there was currently an ongoing contact tracing and line listing of those the Chinese may have been in contact with.

While noting the last case of confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cross River to be in 2022, the epidemiologist, however, feared that the Chinese may have contacted the virus here in Nigeria.

“The incubation period for this virus is usually between two to 14 days, but the Chinese flew into Nigeria from China on March 17 and started developing the symptoms on April 10.

“This is well beyond the 14 days incubation period. Like I said, we are doing the line listing of those he may have come in contact with, as part of our containment efforts.

“We have also activated the emergency response center and deployed rapid response teams to Akamkpa, where the victim works.

“There is no way we can stop this disease, but we can stop the disease outbreak.

“It will be wrong not to contain or manage it by ensuring that people do not die,” she stated.

Similarly, Dr Yewande Olatunde, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Coordinator in Cross River, stated that the disease was still around.

“We we must explore all preventive measures to protect ourselves.” she stressed.

NAN

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The Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) has dismissed a staffer, Garba Ahmed, after it found he engaged in illegal upload of unqualified students for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

In a statement by its spokesperson, Ismaila Yauri, the university said the decision was ratified on Wednesday during the university governing council’s 176th meeting.

The statement said his dismissal takes effect from 1 April, the date of the council meeting.

“Malam Garba was found guilty of illegally uploading unqualified students for NYSC mobilisation,” the statement said.

“The University Governing Council maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward acts of serious or gross misconduct.”

Mr Ahmed had worked in the university’s registry department, where he had access to the list of graduates being mobilised for the NYSC.

Universities mobilised graduates who have met all requirements, including clearing their results and paying all fees. The results are validated by the university senate before onward transfer of the list to the registry, where Mr Ahmed worked.

NYSC withdrew illegally mobilised graduates

Two years ago, the management of the NYSC withdrew over 100 NYSC certificates after it found they had been fraudulently mobilised by the University of Calabar, Cross River State.

The university later told PREMIUM TIMES that it uncovered the fraud and notified the management of the NYSC, which withdrew the certificates.

According to the NYSC, 99 of them were illegally mobilised for the national service between 2021 and 2023, while the remaining two received exemption certificates.

The one-year national service is compulsory for Nigerian graduates who are 30 years old or below when completing their academic programmes. Those over 30 are issued exemption certificates.

NERD to the rescue

However, the Nigerian government has introduced the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) to verify and authenticate academic certificates for Nigerian graduates.

The NCVS issued by the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank (NERD) is now a compulsory certificate before anyone can be mobilised for the NYSC.

The post Varsity Staff Sacked over illegal NYSC Mobilisation appeared first on ESUT Monitor.

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately implement the newly approved salary structure for university lecturers or face a possible nationwide shutdown of public universities.

The union issued a four-day ultimatum on Thursday, with its president, Christopher Piwuna, saying failure to act within the deadline would trigger a strong response.

Speaking at Sa’adu Zungur University in Bauchi State, Piwuna said the government must begin payment under the new salary arrangement without further delay.

“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the federal government to commence payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he said.

The warning comes months after ASUU and the federal government signed a renegotiated agreement in January, aimed at resolving long-standing disputes and preventing the recurring strikes that have plagued Nigeria’s university system.

At the heart of the agreement is a revised salary structure designed to improve lecturers’ welfare and finally address issues stemming from the controversial 2009 FG-ASUU pact, which remained largely unimplemented for years.

Despite initial optimism from the union that the deal would mark a turning point, ASUU says there has been little progress. Piwuna recently disclosed that many federal universities are struggling to pay salaries, with some unable to fully pay January wages and others yet to pay for February.

The crisis recently escalated at the University of Lagos where lecturers embarked on an indefinite strike over unpaid salaries before suspending the action after discussions with the institution’s management.

According to ASUU, the delay in implementing the new pay structure is linked to practical challenges, including the slow passage of the 2026 national budget.

With the ultimatum now in effect, pressure is mounting on the government to act quickly and avert another disruption to academic activities across the country’s public universities.

Punch Credited

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Nigerian universities have struggled with declining academic standards, frequent strikes, and the migration of lecturers abroad. At the centre of these challenges lies an often-ignored factor: the salary structure of university lecturers.

Across higher education systems worldwide, lecturers’ welfare often plays a decisive role in determining the quality of learning students receive.

Experts argue that the importance of productivity among lecturers in tertiary institutions is critical because it directly enhances the quality of teacher training, ensuring that future educators are well-prepared.

Besides, they say that work remuneration, including various compensation packages, rewards, fringe benefits, pay, and allowances, plays a significant role in lecturers’ productivity in aspects of instruction, research supervision, publication and community service in various tertiary institutions across the nation.

Experts express worries that unproductive lecturers can significantly undermine national economic, social, and environmental sustainability by regressing knowledge.

They maintain that persistent poor remuneration amid economic crunch is fueling a massive brain drain in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, deepening crisis in the nation’s university system, where inadequate research funding have combined to erode morale and productivity among lecturers.

Kayode Soremekun, a former vice-chancellor at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) expressed concern that Nigerian lecturers are grossly underpaid.

“The underpayment is such that the average lecturer is on the look-out perpetually for opportunities abroad.

“The government should tackle the problem frontally, and examine what obtains in countries such as South Africa and match same, or even go beyond it. Otherwise, we will be caught in this morass for a long time,” he said.

Nigeria is one of the countries that pays university lecturers and professors the lowest salaries on the continent, according to data on salaries of professors with less than 10 years in the professorial cadre in African public universities.

Nigerian professors earned an average of $366 (about N500,000) monthly, far behind their counterparts in other African countries.

A report, made available on the University of Ibadan’s website, indicates that assistant lecturers, arts fellows, and librarians II have a specific salary scale with minimum annual salary of N794,260.00, while the maximum annual salary is N957,402.

For lecturer II, and research fellow II, the minimum salary per annum is N897,501, while the maximum annual salary is N1,074,314. Lecturer I, and research fellow I, receive a minimum annual salary of N1.12 million, while the maximum annual salary is N1.44 million

According to the report, a senior lecturer is paid a minimum annual salary of N1. 65 million, while the maximum annual salary is N2,35 million.

Data on salaries of professors with less than 10 years on the professorial cadre in African public universities show that while a Nigerian professor earns about $4,400 annually, a South African professor takes home $57,471 yearly, more than 13 times higher.

Professors in Kenya, earn $48,000 per annum, while Gabon professors earn $29,907, Seychelles, $13,950, and Ghanaian professors receive $12,960 yearly.

Soremekun noted that a lecturer’s job is unique and must be appreciated, because the situation lends itself to comparative dynamics.

“It is an international dimension in which comparisons can be made with the salaries of Nigerian lecturers and their counterparts abroad.

“When such comparisons are made, the push and pull factors can be very enormous. To this extent, the very good lecturers will migrate to other climes, and the Nigerian social formation will certainly be the worst for it,” he said.

Stanley Alaubi, a senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, emphasised that improved salary can affect learning outcome positively; because a happy lecture due to a better salary will give out his best to produce a better graduate.

Alaubi urges the government to ensure that the structure of lecturers’ salary is at par with the economic reality of the country.

“The purchasing power should actually be that which can take lecturers home, and a take home pay should actually take one home,” he said.

To address the issue, he said the federal government should abide by the 2009 agreement with ASUU.

Jessica Osuere, the chief executive officer at RubiesHub Educational Services, stressed the fact that poor remuneration de-motivates lecturers, increases brain drain and pushes lecturers into multiple jobs, which would reduce the time they have for teaching, research, mentoring, and feedback.

“This ultimately weakens instructional quality and students learning outcomes,” she noted.

Osuere said the core issue with lecturers’ salary structure is largely structural.

“We still run outdated salary frameworks, such as CONUASS, there’s weak funding of education, we are still battling with poor policy implementation, and lack of political priority for higher education,” she said.

She highlighted the need for regular review of salaries to reflect present economic realities.

“There is the need to link pay to performance and research output, the government should also improve funding for universities, and provide incentives such as research grants, training, housing, academic resources,” she stressed.

Nubi Achebo, director academic planning at Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM), disclosed that problem is rooted in public universities reliance on the government funding, which results in inadequate funding.

Besides, he decried the fact that education does not seem to be a priority in the government’s the budget allocation.

To mitigate this, Achebo advocates public-private partnerships, alumni support, and policy reforms.

“Collaborations, and engaging alumni in fundraising efforts can provide additional funding and resources,

“Besides, we need education policy changes and increased budget allocation,” he said.

Stakeholders believe that the quality of university education is closely tied to the welfare of those who deliver it.

Hence, without a competitive salary scheme for lecturers, Nigeria risks weakening the very foundation of its higher education system.

Business Day Credited

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Leaders from the South East extraction of Nigeria have been urged to urgently intervene to stop the ongoing disconnection of the South East passport production centre located in Enugu.

According to reports, passport production in the South East, situated at the Enugu State Zonal Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has been halted following an alleged directive from the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

It was gathered that the region’s only passport production centre may be shut down effective Friday, February 6, leaving applicants unable to access emergency passport services.

An official of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Enugu Branch, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expressed sadness over the development. The source said a team of professionals allegedly sent from Abuja by the Minister of Interior arrived at the centre and have begun removing the passport production machines.

The source explained that with the removal of the machines, passports can no longer be issued or produced in the South East zone.

According to the source, “emergency passport processing, after the disconnection, will now take place in Abuja. This implies that applicants from Abia, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, and Anambra states can no longer obtain passports on an emergency basis within the region.”

The source further warned that applicants who urgently need their passports may be unable to get them if nothing is done within the next 10 hours, worsening the situation for travellers with immediate needs.

However, as of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Nigeria Immigration Service or the Ministry of Interior on the matter.

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Four Rivers State University students were kidnapped in a midnight attack in Emohua; police have begun a coordinated manhunt.

Four students of the Rivers State University have been kidnapped from their campus in Rumuohia community, Emohua local government area of the State.

It was gathered that the yet to be identified gunmen shooting sporadically invaded the hostel of the students who are schooling at the extended campus of the University in Emohua, killed the security dog in the premises and whisked them away on Tuesday.

The kidnapped victims are Sampson Chimenum (Psychology Department 400 Level), Precious Onyebuchi (Political Science Department 400level), Azubuike Kenechukwu (Psychology Department 400level) and Prince Sampson.

A female student of the school who disclosed her name as Mariam, said students at the campus have suffered several cases of rape, robbery and other vices from hoodlums in the area.

She said despite presence of security agencies within the campus, the bandits continue to perpetrate such hideous act, while calling on the school management and State to come to their aide.

Mariam, a Social Science student of the University lamented “We have heard enough, the issues are very traumatising: alot of issues already experienced, there has been rape cases, robbery cases, despite the fact that there are security agencies strategically placed in this area, yet this issues keep happening.

“Today, few people broke into the house, they shot a security dog dead with automatic rifle and four boys were abducted. Three of the victims are in 400 level alongside a brother to one of the final year student.

“We heard that the Governor wants to move the students to the main campus but that has not happened yet, all we want now is to be moved back to Port Harcourt, the main campus”, she lamented.

Meanwhile, the State Police Command has confirmed the incident.

In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko revealed “On December 2, 2025 at about 0230hrs, a group of suspected cultists, numbering about five, attacked an isolated area in Rumuche/Rumuohia Community, Emohua Local Government Area. The hoodlums shot and abducted five persons to an unknown destination.”

She said on receiving the report, the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, and other service commanders of the State visited the scene of the incident for an on-the-spot assessment.

Iringe-Koko revealed further that the Cp has mandated the Area Commander alongside all tactical units, and Joint Tasksforce to intensify efforts, ensure the safe rescue of the abducted victims, and apprehend the perpetrators.

She also stated the CP assurance that all suspects involved would be brought to justice and made to face the full wrath of the law.

The police spokesperson however, urged members of the public to remain calm and continue to support the Police with credible information that will aid ongoing investigations.

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