The Management of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), has dismissed as false and misleading a report circulating on social media alleging that suspected hoodlums were planning to invade the institution’s campus.

In a statement issued by the Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Mr. Anyaso Anyaso, on behalf of the University Management, the institution described the report as unverified, unfounded, and deliberately crafted to create fear and panic among students, parents, staff, and members of the public.

According to the statement, the University’s security unit, in collaboration with relevant law enforcement agencies, has carried out thorough investigations and found no credible evidence to substantiate the alleged threat.
The Management reassured all stakeholders that the safety, security, and welfare of students, staff, and visitors remain its highest priority, emphasizing that adequate measures are in place to ensure a peaceful academic environment.
The statement further noted that the University’s security personnel remain on active duty round the clock and continue to work closely with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to maintain vigilance across the campus.
As part of routine security management, additional patrols and precautionary measures have also been intensified to further reassure members of the University community.
Students and staff were advised to continue with their academic and official activities without fear, as there is no cause for alarm.

The University Management also cautioned the public against spreading unverified information capable of generating unnecessary panic, stressing that such actions undermine public confidence, divert security resources, and may escalate tensions unnecessarily.
Stakeholders were urged to rely solely on official communications from the University through its Public Relations Unit, official website, and verified social media platforms for authentic information and updates.
The Management expressed appreciation to parents, students, staff, and members of the community for their continued support and cooperation, reiterating its commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and conducive environment for learning and research.
“Management remains committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and peaceful learning environment for all,” the statement concluded.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council, has raised serious concerns over worsening insecurity in communities and the growing infiltration of criminal elements disguising themselves as tricycle operators, calling for immediate and decisive intervention to safeguard lives and property across the state.
The concerns formed part of a communiqué issued at the end of the Union’s Monthly Congress held on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the NUJ Press Centre, Plot 66 Aba Road, Umuahia, presided over by the Chairman of the Council, Comrade Chidi Asonye.

In a strongly worded resolution, Congress condemned the alarming activities of suspected criminals operating under the guise of commercial tricycle (“Keke”) riders, describing the development as a dangerous trend threatening public safety, especially for passengers who commute at night.
The Union noted with deep concern that the unchecked activities of these criminal elements have continued to endanger innocent residents and undermine the security architecture of Abia State.
To tackle the growing menace, the Congress called on the Abia State Ministry of Transport to urgently partner with Keke and Okada unions to regulate, identify and profile operators across the state, insisting that proper documentation and monitoring of members would help flush out criminal infiltrators hiding within the transport system.
On the broader issue of insecurity across Nigeria, the journalists stressed the need for grassroots vigilance, urging traditional rulers, Presidents-General and town union leaders of autonomous communities to take proactive measures in safeguarding their domains.

Congress specifically called on community leaders to intensify local surveillance mechanisms and regularly monitor forests, farmlands and vulnerable areas to guarantee the safety of farmers and rural dwellers increasingly exposed to criminal attacks.
The NUJ also appealed to the Abia State Government to go beyond conventional security responses by organizing periodic security summits for traditional rulers and key community stakeholders, aimed at strengthening local intelligence gathering, sensitization and coordinated community-based security efforts.
Furthermore, Congress advocated the recruitment of forest guards to patrol forests and remote communities across the state, with a mandate to identify and flush out criminal hideouts while restoring confidence among residents.
The communiqué, signed by the Communiqué Drafting Committee Chairman, Imeremba Michael Imeremba; Secretary, Ifeanyi Ogbonna; and member, Christy Emezue, alongside the NUJ Abia Council Secretary, Comrade Iyke Onuegbu, mnipr, and Chairman, Comrade Chidi Asonye, emphasized the urgent need for collective action to preserve peace and security in Abia State.
The Union maintained that ensuring security must remain a shared responsibility among government, traditional institutions and citizens, warning that failure to act swiftly could further expose communities to criminal threats.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a stronger, investment-driven economy . The President said this is possible through sustained collaboration with state governments, as the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and the Abia State Government intensified calls for deeper reforms to accelerate economic growth, job creation, and ease of doing business.

Conveying the President’s goodwill at the PEBEC Nationwide Subnational Engagement and Technical Reform Workshop held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, the Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, stressed that Nigeria’s economic prosperity would only be achieved through coordinated reforms across all levels of government.

She said President Tinubu’s administration was implementing one of the most ambitious economic reform programmes in recent history, aimed at unlocking investments, improving competitiveness, and creating opportunities for citizens.

According to Princess Audu, the future of Nigeria’s economy would not be shaped in Abuja alone but in the states, cities, industrial clusters, innovation hubs, farms, and local government areas where businesses operate and investments thrive.

“The future of Nigeria’s economy will not be determined in Abuja alone. It will be shaped in our states, cities, industrial clusters, farms, innovation hubs, and local government areas,” she stated.

She noted that investors make decisions based largely on the competitiveness of individual states, emphasizing that regulatory efficiency, policy consistency, infrastructure, and ease of doing business remain critical factors in attracting local and foreign investments.

The DG explained that the nationwide subnational engagement tour was designed to strengthen partnerships between the Federal Government and state governments while promoting reforms capable of unlocking Nigeria’s vast investment potential and improving business competitiveness.

Earlier in his remarks, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, who represented Governor Dr. Alex Otti, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to building a business-friendly environment that inspires investor confidence and economic prosperity.

Welcoming the PEBEC delegation, development partners, organised private sector operators, and government officials to the workshop, Emetu commended PEBEC for fostering synergy between the Federal Government and subnational governments in efforts to improve the business climate across Nigeria.

He disclosed that since assuming office in May 2023, the Otti administration had embarked on bold and deliberate reforms aimed at strengthening institutions, rebuilding public trust, modernising infrastructure, enhancing security, and digitising government operations to make Abia more attractive to investors.

According to him, massive investments in road infrastructure connecting markets, industrial clusters, commercial hubs, and communities have significantly improved connectivity, reduced transportation barriers, and enhanced investor confidence.

The Deputy Governor further highlighted the administration’s security reforms, describing Abia as increasingly safer for businesses due to technology-driven security initiatives, enhanced intelligence gathering, and stronger inter-agency collaboration.

On land administration, Emetu described the “Certificate of Occupancy in 30 Days” initiative as one of the most transformative reforms of the present administration.

He revealed that the state had issued over 4,407 Certificates of Occupancy since May 2023, surpassing the cumulative number issued by previous administrations over the last 24 years.

According to him, the initiative has strengthened property rights, improved access to finance, boosted investor confidence, and entrenched transparency and efficiency in land administration.

The Deputy Governor further disclosed that the government had established One-Stop Investment Centres in Aba and Umuahia, expanded digital government platforms, and launched an Export Growth Lab in Aba to empower local businesses and expand export opportunities.

In the area of human capital development, he said the government had recruited over 5,300 teachers and more than 600 healthcare workers, while also expanding opportunities for youth empowerment and skills acquisition.

While acknowledging the progress made, Emetu maintained that reform is a continuous process and assured stakeholders that the Abia State Government would continue to deepen policies capable of stimulating innovation, attracting investments, creating jobs, and improving living standards.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Ease of Doing Business, Hon. Barr. Jennifer Agbonma Okorafor Ukaobasi, said Abia had recorded significant progress in improving its business climate through strategic reforms.

She disclosed that the state rose from 32nd position to 11th place nationally in the Ease of Doing Business ranking through deliberate and consistent reforms.

According to her, Governor Alex Otti has given a clear mandate for Abia to attain the number one position nationally, assuring that deliberate efforts were underway to achieve that target.

Barr. Ukaobasi further revealed that the state recently qualified for the disbursement of a World Bank-supported loan after successfully meeting key reform indicators — an achievement she described as strong evidence of Abia’s commitment to creating a conducive business environment.

She explained that the Ease of Doing Business Office was established to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, bridge the gap between government institutions and the private sector, and encourage investments capable of stimulating economic activities, increasing internally generated revenue, and creating employment opportunities.

“The objective is to make Abia attractive to investors. When businesses come and thrive, they create jobs, increase economic activities, expand the tax net, and contribute significantly to economic growth,” she said.

The SSA noted that engagements with PEBEC, the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), and the World Bank occur regularly through the development of reform action plans, stakeholder consultations, and periodic performance reviews aimed at strengthening the state’s business environment.

She added that beyond formal engagements, her office conducts sensitisation campaigns, workshops for civil servants, and consultations with organised private sector groups to ensure alignment with the state’s ease of doing business agenda.

The Town hall meeting had several sessions on overview of PEBEC and the National wide Subnational Engagement Tour; Strengthening Regulatory Governance through Regulatory Impa Analysis (RIA);
Understanding the Investment Lifecycle and Improving Investor Experience.

There were other sessions on One government approach- One Stop Shops and Integrated Service Delivery; Harmonisation of Levies,Fees, and Re Charges; Access to Justice and Commercial Dispute Resolution,Small Claims Court and Multidoor Court House Systems,etc by the PEBEC Team.

The workshop ended with an interactive session/ Questions and answers . It attracted government officials, development partners, business leaders, policy experts, and members of the organised private sector, who deliberated extensively on strategies for improving investment competitiveness and strengthening business-enabling reforms across Nigeria.

Participants expressed optimism that sustained collaboration between PEBEC and state governments would accelerate reforms, boost investor confidence, and position Nigeria as a preferred destination for enterprise, industrial growth, and sustainable economic development.