Panther Daily News

The leadership of OLD BENDE PROGRESSIVE UNION, OBPU, earlier yesterday 24/9/25 met with DR. DESMOND CHIMA ANYASO,OFUJI NDI IGBO to officially inform him about the planned GRAND RECEPTION FOR H.E.DR.ALEX C.OTTI,OFR, GOVERNOR OF ABIA STATE by the people of Old Bende under the auspices of OBPU.  THE EVENT IS SLATED TO HOLD ON FRIDAY 31ST OCTOBER,2025 AT ENYIMBA INT'L STADIUM ABA. DIG. AZUBUKO JOEL UDAH ESQ.mni.(RTD), Chairman OBPU represented by the 1st Vice Chairman,CHIEF OBIALOR MBARAONYE sought for the support of OFUJI towards the success of the programme. Also speaking, CHIEF JERRY O. KALU,OSIMIRI, CHAIRMAN CONTACT AND MOBILIZATION of OBPU pointed out the position impact of Dr. Otti's administration in Abia State hence the resolve of Old Bende in planning to say THANK YOU to His Excellency. While responding,Dr. Desmond Chima Anyaso,Ofuji praised Dr. Alex C. Otti's transformational leadership in Abia State and pledged his total support and cooperation towards th...

*A Call to Action: Appreciating President Tinubu's Efforts in South East Nigeria* By Dr. Kelechi Madugba As we continue to navigate the complexities of nation-building, it's essential to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of our leaders who are working tirelessly to improve the lives of Nigerians. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration has made significant strides in addressing the needs of the South East region, and as a concerned citizen, I'd like to take a moment to express my gratitude and urge him to do more. *Recognizing Progress* Under President Tinubu's leadership, the South East region has witnessed notable developments in infrastructure, economic growth, and social welfare. Initiatives such as road construction, job creation programs, and investments in education have positively impacted the lives of many. These efforts demonstrate the President's commitment to inclusive governance and his determination to bridge the gap between d...

Former House of Rep candidate under Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency Hon. Kelechi Madugba felicitate with the first lady Senator Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu as she celebrates 65 th  year birthday anniversary, the former Federal House of Rep Contestant under NNPP dumped the Party to Join the Ruling APC, citing the need to join forces with the ruling party at the center to achieve the Renewed Hope agenda of the President and pursue ultimate victory for the Party in the South East region in the coming 2027 general elections. In a statement he issued to journalist who paid him a courtesy visit in his Abuja office, Mr. Madugba fetes the First Lady, Senator Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu as a woman with a golden heart for the citizens citing her numerous visits of charity, empowerment and support to the women and ordinary families across the country with her pet project aimed at unifying people across the Geo-political region of the country. “Our prayers goes to the First Lady i...

ABIA NORTH SENATORIAL ZONE:  THE DOMAIN FOR EQUITY, JUSTICE AND TRUTH.     The People of Abia North Senatorial Zone are gearing up to welcome The Eagle, The Bridge builder, The Man whose word is his bond. The Man with Passion, The Man who is Honest, The Man with a heart of Gold, A Globally-known Entrepreneur, The UGO-ENA 1 OF ABIRIBA He is Chief David Ogba Onuoha(Bourdex).  More Details on this Great Son of Abia and Nigeria Coming Soon. !!!!!

Dr. Maduka Okoro September 6, 2024 Chief Ibe Chukwu, Ward Chairman, Ozuitem Ward, The All Progressives Congress (APC), Bende LGA. Dear Chief Chukwu, I am writing to formally announce my resignation as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), effective immediately. It has been an enriching experience being part of this political journey, and I appreciate the opportunities I've had to engage with many remarkable individuals within the party. However, after careful consideration, I have decided it's time for me to explore new paths and contribute to the growth and development of my community, state, and country in different ways. While I will no longer be a part of APC, I remain committed to using my skills, experience, and passion to make a positive impact wherever I go. I want to express my gratitude for the time spent in APC and the relationships built. I wish the party continued success and growth, and I pray for the well-being and prosperity of Ozuitem War...

Activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has revealed that social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has declined a request by the Department of State Services (DSS) to delete one of his posts criticising President Bola Tinubu. In a post on Sunday, Sowore said X officially notified him of the request from the DSS. His words: “This morning, X officially contacted me about the despicable threat letter they received from the lawless DSS over my tweet on Tinubu. One option I will not be taking is deleting that tweet. Thank you, X.” The notice from X, which Sowore shared, confirmed that the DSS had asked the platform to take action on his account, @YeleSowore, over a post said to contravene Nigerian law. X said it had not taken any action on the reported content and emphasised its policy of informing users when such legal requests are made. “As X strongly believes in defending and respecting the voice of our users, it is our policy to notify our users if we r...

Plans to extend the emergency rule in Rivers State have reportedly collapsed following a closed-door meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd), the state’s Sole Administrator. Sources say the meeting at the Presidential Villa last Wednesday set the stage for the possible return of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the 32-member House of Assembly on September 18th  According to a report by Vanguard Newspaper, the sources revealed that President Tinubu instructed Ibas to submit detailed handover notes covering his six-month stewardship, including funds inherited from Fubara, revenues accrued during his tenure, expenditures, and the specific projects financed. The submission is expected before the end of Ibas’ 10-day vacation. The development effectively ended efforts by some powerful actors in the National Assembly to secure a three-month extension for Ibas. Proponents argued that the extra period would all...

The Abia State government has assured its citizens that their inputs, rather than the preferences of the elites, will shape the 2026 budget proposals. The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Kingsley Anosike, gave the assurance on Friday during a citizens’ engagement forum to prepare Abia’s 2026 budget. He explained that residents drawn from different communities, civil society organisations, and government agencies were invited to articulate their needs for the forthcoming budget, stressing that their inputs would be reflected in the plans. “We build the budget from the ground, not the other way round. “The budget is meant to be citizens’ budget, it is supposed to be a budget that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of the people, not the preference of the elites,” Anosike said. He recalled that citizens’ contributions in 2024 influenced the 2025 Abia State budget by about five per cent and, therefore, urged residents to prioritise their most pressing needs...

President Donald Trump is changing the name of the Department of Defence to the Department of War, the White House announced Thursday, insisting the rebrand will project a more powerful image. While the department’s official name is set in law, Trump, in an executive order, is authorising use of the new label as a “secondary title” by his administration, a White House document said. Defence officials are permitted to use “secondary titles such as ‘Secretary of War’…in official correspondence, public communications, ceremonial contexts, and non-statutory documents within the executive branch,” according to the document. It was not immediately clear when Trump planned to sign the order, but his public schedule for Friday said he would be signing executive orders in the afternoon as well as making an announcement in the Oval Office. The president, a marketing-savvy real estate developer, has repeatedly said in recent weeks that he was mulling such a change. Late last month, th...

Angola has commenced operations at the long-awaited Cabinda refinery, its first since independence, with production set to begin before the end of 2025. The over $500 million facility will have an initial capacity of 30,000 barrels per day and serve as the country’s second refinery. At the inauguration ceremony, Oil and Gas Minister Diamantino Azevedo said the refinery would help reduce Angola’s dependence on fuel imports as the government removes the costly subsidies. President João Lourenço also attended the event. Azevedo stated: "“By the end of the year, Angola will have the first commercial derivatives produced at this unit." The refinery is majority-owned by London-based investment firm Gemcorp, while state-owned oil company Sonangol retains 10% and supplies the feedstock. Gemcorp has said the first phase of the plant will meet between 5 to 10% of Angola’s domestic fuel demand. Currently, Angola imports about 72% of its fuel needs, roughly 3.3 million metric...

The federal government has clarified that certain reports in circulation about Nigerians paying a ₦500 fuel surcharge on every ₦10,000 worth of fuel bought from January 2026 are inaccurate and misleading. "Some People Have Been Giving Wrong Information About This" - FG Clarifies ₦500 Fuel Tax The government stated that while the new tax law provides for a fuel surcharge under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Act, the provision has not yet taken effect. It added that contrary to claims that Nigerians would start paying the ₦500 surcharge as from January 2026, the implementation date will only be determined by an official order from the Minister of Finance. Naija News reports that the clarification was made in a video by the Chairman of the Presidential Tax Reform Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, which was made public by the State House. “What we have is that there’s a law that was enacted some years back with a surcharge on fuel under the FEMA Act. This is a...

FG announces new requirement to open, operate bank account According to a report from Vanguard, Beginning January 1, 2026, Nigerians and non-residents will be unable to open or operate a bank account without a valid Tax Identification Number (Tax ID). The requirement is part of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu. The Act broadens the use of Tax IDs beyond banking, making them compulsory for insurance, stock market transactions, and contracts with federal and state governments. Under the law, every taxable person must register with the relevant authority to obtain a Tax ID card, while all ministries, departments, and agencies across all tiers of government are also required to secure theirs. Non-residents providing taxable goods or services in Nigeria will likewise need to register and pay tax in the country. The legislation empowers tax authorities to issue a Tax ID automatically if an individual fails to apply, or re...

Nigeria risks fuel scarcity as NUPENG sets for showdown with Dangote The long-uninterrupted petroleum products supply being experienced in Nigeria could be truncated from next week unless there’s some intervention in a brewing crisis between NUPENG and the Dangote Group. Fuelling the brewing crisis is a disagreement between the two parties over Dangote Refinery’s planned rollout of 4,000 to 10,000 CNG-powered trucks for direct products distribution and an alleged refusal of truck drivers being engaged to join Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (PTD), an affiliate of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). A statement seen by BusinessDay on Friday and signed by William Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, president and general secretary of NUPENG, respectively, noted that disallowing the drivers being recruited from joining PTD amounted to a violation of their constitutional rights. The union further raised concerns and accused the Dangote Refinery of “schemi...

The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a fresh twist as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alongside four sitting governors, reportedly issued a six-point ultimatum to the party’s leadership, threatening to withdraw their support if urgent reforms are not carried out. Reliable sources within the PDP confirmed on Monday that the ultimatum was delivered after a series of closed-door meetings in Abuja last weekend. The aggrieved bloc, led by Wike and the governors of Oyo, Enugu, Benue, and Abia States, accused the national leadership of sidelining critical stakeholders in decision-making and reneging on earlier agreements reached before the 2023 general elections. At the heart of the grievance is what the group describes as “the dominance of a cabal” within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), which they allege is undermining internal democracy. The six-point demands, though not officially released, are said t...