Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State has awarded the contract for the reconstruction of the Okpara Road in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. The road which was named after the first premier of the Eastern region had remained in disrepair for the past sixty (60) years.

Contract for the reconstruction of the road was made possible by the partnership between the Abia State government and Rt Hon Obi Aguocha, the member representing Umuahia North, Umuahia South and Ikwuano in the House of Representatives.

The partnership which has attracted several empowerment projects to the youths in the constituency, as well as the soon-to-be awarded reconstruction of the 2nd phase of the Ohuhu ring road to ease movement in and out of the Ohuhu clan is the initiative of Rt Hon Obi Aguocha who has deployed a two-pronged approach in serving his constituency at the federal and the state levels in order to attract developmental projects to the Umuahia North, Umuahia South and Ikwuano Federal Constituency.

Such efforts have already yielded a long list of impactful achievements which are of great benefits to his constituents.

The Headquarters 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Abia State, on Monday 27 July 2026 hosted its Officers’ Training Day with a focus on the theme: *”Leveraging Cyber, Electronic Warfare and Information Systems as a Tool for Fighting Future Warfare.”* The event brought together senior military officers, heads of sister security agencies, and experts who examined the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cyber warfare, and electronic warfare in modern military operations.

In his opening remarks, the Special Guest of Honour, Commodore BU Quadri mni commended the Commander, 14 Brigade, Brig Gen AM Dikko, and personnel of the brigade for organizing what he described as a timely and intellectually stimulating training.

According to Commodore Quadri, the character of warfare has changed significantly, stressing that future battlefields will no longer be defined solely by firepower and maneuver but by who controls information, dominates the electromagnetic spectrum, and protects their networks while disrupting those of adversaries.

He cited recent global conflicts where drones interject jamming systems through electronic warfare, logistics disrupted by cyberattacks, and morale weakened through information warfare and misinformation.

Furthermore, he observed that terrorist organizations around the world have become increasingly sophisticated in their use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), social media, and electronic devices to coordinate operations, radicalize recruits, and launch attacks. He stressed that every participant must understand the fundamentals of cyber threats, electronic warfare capabilities, and the weaponization of information.

In his welcome address, the Commander, 14 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig Gen AM Dikko, stated that modern battlefield has expanded into the cyber domain and electromagnetic spectrum.

According to him, electronic warfare is now used to jam communications and degrade military sensors, making it imperative for the Armed Forces to acquire more knowledge in cyber warfare and Artificial Intelligence.

Brig Gen Dikko further disclosed that the Nigerian Army, under the leadership of Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, Nigerian Army Medal (NAM) is investing heavily in digitization, cyber defense, and electronic warfare capabilities to strengthen the military’s capacity, particularly in combating terrorism and insurgency.

He added that the lecture was designed to increase awareness of threats in the cyber and electronic domains and provide participants with strategies to counter them. He urged participants to pay close attention to the lectures and ensure that the knowledge gained is transmitted to troops under their command.

The event featured a lecture on the topic: *”ETHICS AND ESCALATION RISKS OF AI-ENABLED WARFARE.”* by Brigadier General S Julius. During his presentation, he explained that warfare has continually evolved alongside technological advancement, with Artificial Intelligence emerging as one of the defining technologies shaping modern military operations.

He extensively discussed the conceptual foundations of AI-enabled warfare, the ethical challenges associated with the employment of AI in military operations, and the escalation risks that could arise from the increasing integration of AI into warfare.

He noted that while AI has enormous potential to improve intelligence gathering, surveillance, operational planning, and decision-making, its employment must always be guided by ethical principles, accountability, and meaningful human control.

The lecture also was discussed by an esteemed, erudite and highly respected academia. In person of Dr Uchenna Kalu Uduka who also make meaningful contributions to the lecture presented. He highlighted some areas where AI could positively be used to enhance Military Operations.

Highlights of the event included interactive session presentation of certificates, awards and group photograph.

*MAZINHO ATTAH*
Captain
Assistant Director Army Public Relations
14 Brigade Nigerian Army
Ohafia, Abia State
28 July 2026

The Chairman of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria (FFDGN), Dr. Chris Akomas, says the forum’s fifth national conference will focus on rebuilding trust between leaders and citizens as part of efforts to promote national unity, good governance and sustainable development.

Akomas stated this when members of the forum paid a courtesy visit to the forum’s National Patron and former Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, ahead of the conference scheduled for October 20 and 21.in Abuja.

He said the conference, with the theme, “Rethinking Nation Building: Bridging the Leadership-Citizen Disconnect,” would provide practical recommendations for addressing governance challenges and strengthening democratic institutions.

According to him, the Board of Trustees resolved to visit the forum’s patrons to appreciate their consistent support, formally notify them of the conference and seek their participation.

Dr. Akomas said the delegation also presented Ganduje with the proceedings of the forum’s fourth national conference and its 2026/2027 desk calendar.

He described Ganduje as a committed supporter of the forum, noting that he had consistently attended its annual conferences or delegated representatives whenever official engagements prevented his attendance.

The forum chairman disclosed that members had earlier visited the forum’s Grand Patron, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who commended the steady growth of the organisation and expressed willingness to attend this year’s conference.

He reiterated that the forum remained a non-partisan body committed to promoting national unity, democratic governance and sound public policy by leveraging the wealth of experience of former deputy governors.

Akomas also invited Ganduje to visit the forum’s national secretariat in recognition of his continued support for the organisation.

Responding, the Former Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje urged the forum to play a more active role in reconciling serving governors and their deputies whenever disagreements arise, saying such interventions would strengthen democratic governance and political stability.

He said former deputy governors possess the experience and credibility to mediate in political disputes and offer objective advice to serving public office holders.

The former Kano State governor also called on the forum to examine the recurring conflicts between outgoing governors and their successors, describing the trend as a growing challenge to Nigeria’s democracy.

Ganduje accepted the invitation to attend the forum’s fifth national conference and commended the organisation for sustaining its advocacy on good governance, noting that the impact of its programmes reflected its seriousness and relevance to national development.

The Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria is a non-partisan body comprising former deputy governors from the country’s 36 states and it provides a platform for members to share governance experiences and make policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democratic and socio-economic development.