News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has endorsed an Executive Order on direct remittance of oil and gas revenue to the Federation account to curb wasteful spending and eliminate duplicative structures, while redirecting the resources for the benefit of Nigerians.  Tinubu signed the EO in pursuant of Section 5 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). The Executive Order is anchored on Section 44(3) of the Constitution, which vests ownership, control, and derivative rights in all minerals, oils, and natural gas in, under, and upon any land in Nigeria, including its territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, in the Government of the Federation. It seeks to restore the constitutional revenue entitlements of the Federal, State, and Local Governments, which were taken away in 2021 by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).  The PIA created structural and legal channels through which substantial Federation revenues were lost through dedu...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja    President Bola Tinubu and German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz  President Bola Tinubu and German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz have resolved to strengthen bilateral ties between Nigeria and Germany in the security, power, and railway sectors. In a telephone conversation on Wednesday afternoon, the two leaders also expressed their willingness to cooperate in creative arts and skill development. At the Presidential Power Initiative, Tinubu indicated that Nigeria would require assistance with power transmission.  Chancellor Merz pledged that Siemens would be ready to assist in that regard, while Deutsche Bank would be willing to finance the project. The two leaders were dissatisfied with the crisis in the Sahel region, even as President Tinubu called for the supply of used helicopters to help in intelligence reconnaissance in the region. "The Sahel corridor is bad and needs our support. Intelligence support reconnaissance is needed," the...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja L–R: Minister of Works Engr. Nweze David Umahi displaying the year 2026, World Guinness Book of Record alongside the Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria, Mr.Girish Sharma in Abuja on Tuesday.  Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi has received the 2026 edition of Guinness World Records.  The book was presented to Umahi by the Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria, Mr.Girish Sharma during a courtesy visit to the minister on Tuesday in Abuja.

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja As attacks on Christians and others persist, the United States of America has deployed 100 military personnel to Nigeria to strengthen the fight against insurgency.  Confirming the presence of foreign troops, the Defence Spokesperson, Samaila Uba said that the deployment followed a recent security agreement between Nigeria and the US. The US personnel, who arrived at Bauchi airfield with military equipment are expected to assist in training members of the Nigerian Armed Forces while providing technical support and intelligence sharing.  Uba said: "The collaboration will provide access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ability to deter terrorists’ threats and enhance the protection of vulnerable communities across the country." He noted that US personnel are not combat forces, adding that all training activities will be conducted under the authority, direction and control of the Federal Government and in cl...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The original inhabitants, visitors and settlers are set to experience new lease of life with transformative projects in Mambila Plateau, 64 years after it was conceived.  Part of the projects are Bali–Serti (Gashaka)–Gembu road; Gembu–Mbamnga–Yang (Lip) road; and special intervention on failed sections of Jalingo-Mutum Biyu-Tella-Wukari road caused by flooding.  At the conclusion of National Media Tour of the North East, officials of the Federal Ministry of Works visited the projects, all cited in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.  The Gembu–Mbamnga–Yang (Lip) road, which links to the Cameroon border, alongside other interventions were conceived to improve livelihoods in the communities.  Recall that on February 11, 1961, a United Nations-supervised plebiscite was held in the British-administered Northern Cameroons. As majority of the residents voted to join the Federation of Nigeria rather than the Republic of Cameroon...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Committed to transforming the livelihoods of Nigerians, the Federal Government has delivered life-changing roads in Adamawa State. In continuation of its nationwide media tour, the Federal Ministry of Works commissioned Cham-Numan section of the Gombe–Yola Road, which is one of the 2,064 projects inherited from previous the governments.  The road, which is the only artery that connects Gombe State to Adamawa, was rehabilitated in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu to provide world-class infrastructure that will boost development in the country.  Federal Controller of Works for Adamawa State, Engr. Dimas Tuwai described the route as an economic corridor bedeviled by years of neglect.  He explained that issues arising from variations in scope and design necessitated the use of bolders’ fill instead of stone base, leading to an augmentation of the contract sum to about ₦16 billion from its initial ₦9 billion when it w...