News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja In line with President Bola Tinubu's commitment to protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring the safety of Nigerians, the Federal Government has pegged the ongoing construction of new Carter Bridge in Lagos at N545 billion. Part of the new Carter Bridge will feature a world-class cable-stayed design to improve navigation and add aesthetic value to Lagos. Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi stated this at the hand over of construction of Carter Bridge to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).  The project, expected to last for 36 months, will be financed through a combination of Federal Government counterpart funding and external borrowing, with 30 percent to be paid by the Federal Government and 70 percent sourced externally. Umahi said that the decision to reconstruct the bridge became necessary after years of alarming structural investigations revealed worsening defects beneath both the Carter Bridge and the 3rd Mainland...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has endorsed President Bola Tinubu's second term bid for Nigeria's number job.  Tinubu will re-contest the presidential election under his party, All Progressives Congress (APC). Signing Tinubu's nomination form in Abuja, Umahi described it as a victory form and a defining moment in Nigeria’s ongoing development journey. He said that it is a collective commitment to continuity, stability, and the consolidation of gains recorded under the current administration.  The minister noted that the President through his leadership style set in motion critical infrastructure reforms, particularly in road construction and rehabilitation, which remain vital to economic growth. According to him, ongoing projects across the country are part of the administration’s resolve to deliver tangible results, adding that the progress made so far provided a strong foundation for sustained national transformation. He was con...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has parleyed global investors in Paris, France, placing much emphasis on transparency and fiscal discipline, while explaining the rationale for the swift implementation of bold reforms. At the meeting, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, highlighted Nigeria's strong GDP growth in dollar terms in 2025. He said that Nigeria recorded 11.2% GDP growth in dollar terms last year, a record that reinforced the country's ambition to achieve a $1 trillion economy in 2030.  Oyedele emphasised the government's near-term priorities of translating reforms into results for the Nigerian people. He also pledged to publish quarterly financial data. The Director General of the Debt Management Office, Mrs Patience Oniha assured investors of the government’s responsible approach to debt financing and its focus on sustainable debt management.  The investors were from Citibank and France's ...

Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed deal with the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) on consumer protection enforcement and the replacement of hazardous products in Lagos. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Commission’s CEO, Mr. Tunji Bello, and the General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo. Part of the terms of agreement stipulates that both parties must recognise that mutual collaboration and cooperation in protecting consumers are vital to achieving an optimal, stable, and reliable goods- and services-based market, consistent with their respective mandates. The parties, in recognition of their joint and mutual responsibilities, are expected to facilitate effective, efficient, and coordinated discharge of their respective functions for the benefit of consumers and business operators in Lagos State. On the scope of the MOU, the parties agreed to cooperate and collaborate in discharging their res...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Federal Government has strengthened its ambitious target for accelerated road infrastructure and security on key corridors across Kogi State.  This formed the crux of discuss at a  high-level engagement between the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, and Commissioner for Works, Kogi State, Hon. Salam Ozige Deedat in Abuja.  The minister explained that the major challenge confronting infrastructure delivery nationwide remains funding, even as the Federal Government continues to intensify efforts to address infrastructure deficits across all regions. He emphasised that the current administration is undertaking unprecedented road construction and rehabilitation works, noting that if past administrations had achieved similar levels of development, the present infrastructure pressure across the country would have been significantly reduced.  He reiterated that all parts of the country are demanding attention, adding that ongoing wor...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has informed market women in the FCT that the era of marginalisation and absence of women in key leadership positions must end, as the 2027 general elections inch closer.  National Chairperson of NAWOJ, Hajia Aisha Ibrahim Bura disclosed this during a marketplace advocacy programme held at Wuse Market, Abuja, organized by NAWOJ FCT in collaboration with partners. She declared that women must no longer remain passive participants but active to influence outcomes, take leadership, and win elective positions. Bura commended NAWOJ FCT for taking advocacy directly to the grassroots, describing the marketplace outreach as a bold and impactful step toward empowering women where it matters most. She urged the market women to prioritise their health while taking deliberate steps towards leadership and active participation in the 2027 general elections to enhance women’s representation in governance. "No ...