News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and Hon Ali Dalori  The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman (North) Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori has taken over as the Acting National Chairman, pending the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party in December, 2025.  This followed the resignation of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje from his exalted position as the party’s National Chairman on Friday.  The former two-term Kano State governor appreciated President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve APC at the highest level. Ganduje assumed the leadership of the APC in August 2023, following the resignation of his predecessor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu. But in a letter on Friday night, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka said that Ganduje's resignation was to enable him attend to urgent and important personal matters. The resignation takes effect immediately.  The statement reads: "The All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Federal Government has kickstarted series of training meant to empower engineers to deliver safer and quality roads across the country.  It commenced with a three-day zonal capacity building for engineers, technologists, and technicians in the North Central zone, at the Pavement Evaluation Unit, Sheda in Kwali Area Council, Abuja.  The participants gathered for intensive knowledge-sharing and technical skill enhancement tailored to the evolving demands of modern infrastructure delivery. Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Engr. Olufunsho Adebiyi emphasised that the programme was approved by the Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi.  The training was targetted at addressing the widening generational and capacity gaps caused by the recent retirement of a significant number of senior engineers and the anticipated exit of more within the year.  Adebiyi noted that organising the training on a zonal basis ensured efficient resource man...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo has advocated for balanced concession agreements to avoid mortgaging the future of Nigeria.  He stated this in Abuja at the just concluded 2025 Nigeria Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Summit, organised by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in Abuja, with the theme: "Role of Public Private Partnerships in Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda". The theme of the summit: "Unlocking Nigeria's Potential: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda," attracted key players from the government and private sectors to chart a sustainable path for infrastructure development. Goronyo reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to driving infrastructure development through well-structured PPPs.  During the panel discussion, he highlighted the ministry of works' strategic efforts to leverage PPP models in the road sector,...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi has apologised to President Bola Tinubu over the flooded section of Lafia-Makurdi road.  This was even as he ordered the ministry’s personnel and the maintenance team of China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company, concessionaire for Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi road to urgently fix the troubled spot.  News Rider reports that on June 18, debris that covered an existing culvert on Lafia-Makurdi road resulted in heavy flooding that disrupted traffic flow on the corridor.  Umahi condemned the unfortunate negligence by the concessionaire whose duty under the Highways Development  Management Initiative (HDMI) of the Federal Government, is to operate and maintain the road.  'We received information on the unfortunate flooding of a section of Keffi-Makurdi road which is under HDMI, that is, a PPP with China Harbour.  "We know that the project has been completed and it is tolled, bu...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja In order to close the infrastructure gaps, Nigeria needs to fully embrace Public Private Partnership (PPP) to fund 2600 projects inherited from previous administrations.  The projects worth N19 trillion, are huge to be funded through annual budgets, hence the demand for PPP as the only feasible option.  Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Goronyo stated this at a two-day summit organised by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in Abuja, with the theme: "Role of Public Private Partnerships in Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda". Tagged Nigeria Public-Private Partnership  (PPP) Summit 2025, the event attracted policymakers, investors, and industry leaders, who brainstormed on evolving infrastructure landscape in Nigeria and its global implications. Goronyo made presentation on Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) and various concessions under PPP arrangements like the 227.2km Akwanga-Lafiya -ke...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja   Engr David Umahi  Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi has ousted Levant Construction Limited from the reconstruction of  Benin-Sapele-Warri Road (Section 1: Benin - Imasabor) over non-performance.  With the latest development, the company risks face-off with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if the Federal Government fails to recover the Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) in line with the contractual agreement.  The 23 kilometers project worth N35 billion, is executed under Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.  Umahi directed the termination of the contract during a meeting with the Chief Executives of GELD Construction Ltd and SKECC Nigeria Ltd, as well as management staff of the ministry on Tuesday in Abuja.  He frowned at the delay in the execution of the Benin-Sapele-Warri road, adding that Messrs Levant neglected their contractual duties on the section of...