News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after a 5-day trip to the Republic of Türkiye.  Tinubu landed at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja at exactly 8.55pm on Saturday night.  The Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga confirmed Tinubu's arrival in a video posted on his X handle on Saturday.  In the 1.03seconds video, the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike; Service Chiefs and other high-ranking government officials were at the airport to receive Mr President.  During the visit, President Tinubu signed nine Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Turkish government.  The Visit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had departed Abuja on Monday, January 26, for a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye.  The visit was aimed at strengthening the existing cordial relations between the two countries and exploring further areas of cooperation in sec...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja L-R: Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi and Chairman of Innoson Group, Dr Innocent Chukwuma when the latter paid a courtesy to the Ministry of Works in Abuja recently.  The Chairman of Innoson Group, Dr Innocent Chukwuma has praised the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi for revamping Nigeria's infrastructure landmass.  This was even as he commended the minister for his exceptional leadership acumen and the remarkable progress recorded in the development of road networks across the country, emphasising the impact on connectivity, economic activities, and the overall quality of life of Nigerians. He stated this during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. The chairman applauded the visible development witnessed in Ebonyi State and other parts of the Southeast, observing that the positive outcomes of Umahi’s leadership style, both as a former governor and now as minister of...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi has formed strategic partnership with Niger State Government to speed up Federal road projects in the state.  At a high-level meeting with Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago in Abuja, the minister noted that many state government's interventions are on Federal road corridors that directly benefit the citizens. The minister commended Governor Bago for his untiring efforts toward infrastructure development and urban renewal across Niger. Umahi acknowledged the numerous challenges associated with Federal roads in the state, stressing that road infrastructure development is a shared responsibility, irrespective of jurisdiction.  He praised the significant interventions in areas such as Bida, Minna, and Suleja, describing them as impactful urban renewal efforts that enhanced mobility and boosted economic activities.  The minister assured the governor of the Federal Government’s support, particular...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Minister of State for Works, Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo has threatened to sanction contractors over delayed and failed projects, reaffirming its determination towards thectimely delivery of Sokoto–Gusau–Funtau–Zaria Road.   Goronyo stated this during an on-the-spot assessment of reconstruction works along key sections of the 750-kilometre highway, spanning Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna States. While inspecting Sections of Dange to Shuni in Sokoto and onward through Talata Mafara, Maru and Bungudu in Zamfara, the minister stressed that the Federal Government would not tolerate undue delays on projects of critical national importance. Goronyo noted that the inspection was conducted in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to enforce strict compliance with approved standards, value for money, and early delivery of projects, meant to ease transportation challenges and stimulate economic activities. He said: "I am person...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Motorists and residents in Jigawa State are set to witness major economic transformation as the Federal Government’s ongoing projects reached completion phase.   The project commenced in accordance with agenda five of Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu, designed to enhance infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth.  This was one of the observations at the conclusion of Media Tour of ongoing projects, as well as the Commissioning of Emergency/Special Intervention Projects in the North West Zone.  The tour showcased the Federal Government’s determination to deliver critical road infrastructure to Nigerians, with substantial progress recorded on several projects, including accolades by the host communities.  Speaking in Gumel, the Federal Controller of Works (FCW) Jigawa State, Engr. Yusuf Mahmoud disclosed that the reconstruction of Kwanar Danja–Tsalle–Hadejia Road is progressing speedily.  The...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Federal Government has stated that the ongoing Kano Northern Bypass project was designed to decongest traffic at the metropolis, enhance road safety, and improve connectivity within the North-West Zone of the country. This was even as the government reaffirmed its commitment to delivering critical road infrastructure in line with approved quality standards and timelines for the benefit of Kano State and Nigerians generally.  Speaking during an inspection tour of the project, the Engineering Representative, Engr. Abba Sani Bello disclosed that the Kano Northern Bypass is a dual-carriageway spanning approximately 37.8 kilometres, featuring 10 major bridges, reinforced concrete shoulders, and a 3-metre-wide concrete median designed to ensure durability and a long service life. According to him, the road alignment begins from Danzaki on the Kano–Hadejia Road and ends on the Kano–Katsina Road around nine kilometres away from Kano metropolis on both ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja In fulfillment of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Works has promised the timely completion of Federal Road projects in Katsina, emphasising on delivering quality road infrastructure. This was revealed during a national media tour of ongoing and completed Federal road projects in Katsina State. The Federal Controller of Works Katsina State, Engr. Idris Matinja hinted that the construction of Ungwan Iliya Bagudu–Kwantakaran–Tsiga–Bakori Road, including the Kadabo bridges in Kafur Local Government Area, as well as the Dualisation of the Kano–Katsina Road (Katsina-Kano State Border to Katsina Steel Rolling Mill Roundabout) is progressing steadily.  He explained that the 17-kilometre Ungwan Iliya–Bakori Road project, awarded in February 2025, which comprised three bridges, has so far attained over 11 per cent completion, with notable progress recorded on stone base layers and more than four kilometres of lined d...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has praised the people of Anambra State for observing the Monday sit-at-home despite threats by Governor Chukwuma Soludo. The sit-at-home was introduced by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on August 9, 2021, to demand the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, with schools, banks, markets, and motor parks mandated to shutdown on Mondays.  But worried by the prolonged stay-at-home, Prof Soludo had on Monday, January 26, 2026, ordered the immediate closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week, following the traders’ continued compliance with IPOB's directive on sit-at-home.  Soludo warned that if traders failed to open at the expiration of the one-week shutdown, the market would be closed for another week and subsequently for longer periods. The statement has already triggered reactions from IPOB and traders, who protested on Tuesday when security operatives barricaded Main Market and prevented them f...

Dangote Refinery has increased the retail price of Premium Motor Spirit nationwide to N839 per litre.  With the latest increment, N100 was added to a litre of petrol, as disclosed in a statement by the company on Tuesday.  The gantry price of petrol is now sold at N799 per litre, while the retail price is N839 per litre.  This was against the N699 and N739 per litre respectively sold since December last year.  "Under the current alignment, the PMS gantry price is N799 per liter, while MRS retail outlets are selling at N839 per liter," the statement read. The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, David Bird hinted that the refinery supplies the domestic market with approximately 50 million liters of PMS daily, with nationwide evacuation and distribution operating normally. This move by Dangote Refinery may likely lead to a hike in the price of petroleum products nationwide.  Last week, Kpler, a global energy analytics firm hinted that...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Presidency has declared President Bola Tinubu fit after his dramatic fall during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential complex in Türkiye.  A video posted on X by Turkish digital news platform, Nefes Gazetesi on Tuesday showed Tinubu walking alongside his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Erdoğan, before stumbling to the ground.  The Secret Service quickly assisted him to get up.  But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare defended his boss via his X handle, saying that Tinubu is hale and hearty. Dare noted that the President proceeded from the ceremonial reception to scheduled bilateral meetings with President Erdogan and other senior officials. "President Tinubu, after a stately welcome ceremony in Ankara, proceeded to scheduled bilateral meetings with the President of Türkiye and other senior government officials," he said. This followed earlier reports that President Tinubu briefly ...

Traders protesting the shutdown of Onitsha Main Market on Tuesday  Traders at Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State on Tuesday staged a protest over the closure of Onitsha Main Market by the state government.  This followed the directive by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who on Monday ordered the shutdown of the market for one-week over the traders’ continued compliance with IPOB's directive on sit-at-home.  The traders numbering over 2000 marched round the market hailing the incarcerated leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.  Soludo had lamented that the Monday sit-at-home costs Anambra State about N8bn weekly, and the South East region N19.6bn, while disrupting work and other economic activities. "The government cannot stand by while few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy. This is plain economic sabotage. We are not going to allow this. "The closure is a prote...

BY CHIKA OKEKE Governor Chukwuma Soludo  The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has kicked against the directive by Anambra State government to shutdown  Onitsha Main Market over the trader's compliance with Monday sit-at-home order. To this end, IPOB directed all markets to open on Tuesday, January 27, describing the sit-at-home as a civil disobedience and silent protest against injustice. Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo had on Monday ordered the immediate closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week, following the traders’ continued compliance with IPOB's directive on sit-at-home.  Shortly after inspecting the market, the governor noted that the shutdown was a direct response to the failure of the market leadership to open on Mondays against the government’s directive. The governor warned that if traders failed to open at the expiration of the one-week shutdown, the market would be closed for another week and subsequently for longer period...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq. has hailed North-West youths as Vanguard of the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing them as the driving force behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) victory in the 2023 presidential election.  At the Meet and Greet of the PCC North-West Youth Mobilization 2023, Goronyo commended members of the North-West Youth Mobilization Directorate for their dedication, resilience, and strategic grassroots engagement during the 2023 campaign. Goronyo, who served as Director of National Youth Mobilization for the North-West Zone during the electioneering period, noted that the zone emerged as the highest contributor to the APC’s victory, delivering 2,652,235 votes, representing about 30 percent of the total votes secured nationwide by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. "This was not an accident. It was the outcome of tireless mobilisation, strategic planning, and an unshakable belief in the Asiwaju...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering transformative infrastructure with far-reaching socio-economic benefits, as Kebbi section of Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway advances speedily.  The 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway is one of the four Legacy Road Projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  At the National Media Tour and Commissioning of Emergency/Intervention Project in Kebbi State, the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mal. Mohammed A. Ahmed revealed that the tour was organised to enable the stakeholders, media, and general public to directly assess the scale, quality, and progress of ongoing works - particularly sections of the superhighway with significant impact on communities in Kebbi.  "It is also intended to gauge public perceptions on the provision of road infrastructure by the Federal Government," he added. The Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Ishaya Va...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Monday, January 26, for a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye.  The visit is aimed at strengthening the existing cordial relations between the two countries and exploring further areas of cooperation in security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation.  Recall that the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid an official visit to Nigeria from October 19 to 20, 2021. During President Tinubu's visit, both countries will engage in strategic political and diplomatic discussions on shared values in finance, communication, trade and investment.  The agenda will include meetings between high-ranking officials of both nations and the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military cooperation and protocol, among others. Also, during a business forum, investors f...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi has commenced strategic talks with World Bank on strengthening Nigeria’s infrastructure, particularly the road sector. Receiving a high-level delegation from the bank in his office on Friday, Umahi appreciated World Bank for their interest in Nigeria's infrastructure projects.  Umahi noted that infrastructure development remains the most critical requirement for Nigeria to attain its desired position in global economic competitiveness, emphasising that efficient road networks are fundamental to national growth, trade, and social development. He briefed the delegation on the Federal Government’s Development Management Initiative, as well as the 'Build, Update and Maintain" (BUM) strategy of the APC-led administration.  Under BUM strategy, the government is responsible for constructing roads while the private sector will be engaged to maintain them. The model is also  designed to ensure sustainability...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Director of Information and Public Relations, Mal. Mohammed A. Ahmed (2nd right); SSA to the President on Community Engagement, North West Zone, Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai (3rd Right);Controller of Works Sokoto, Engr. Maigwandu Kasimu (2nd  Left); S. A. (Projects) to the Hon. Minister, Bukola Odeyemi (1st Left) and  Project Manager of Hitech Construction Company Ltd., Sokoto Engr. Johan Foucie (1st Right) during the inspection of ongoing construction of Sokoto - Badagry Super Highway. The Federal Government has secured the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway with Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system and street lighting for the safety of road users and communities along the corridors.  This is even as the government assured that the ongoing landmark project is designed to enhance national integration, trade, and security, reaffirming its commitment to delivering safe, durable, and economically transformative road...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja In continuation of the national media tour and commissioning of emergency/intervention projects across the six geopolitical zones, the Federal Government has inspected and commissioned road projects in Zamfara State.  The commissioning exercise was led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-West), Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai alongside key stakeholders in Gusau, Zamfara State Capital.  He explained that the initiative was designed to enable Nigerians, through the media, to independently assess the Federal Government’s interventions in the road sector.  Tanko noted that the media tour was deliberately conducted without the  Minister of Works or the Permanent Secretary, to allow journalists unrestricted access to project sites and pave the way for objective and first-hand reporting on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration agenda on infrastructure development.  Providing an update on ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has commenced a phased enforcement measures against operators that violated Digital Money Lending (DML) rules.  The FCCPC had in 2025 issued Monday, January 5, 2026, as deadline for operators to regularise their status in accordance with the Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025 (DEON Regulations).  Speaking on the commencement of enforcement measures, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello informed that the actions were necessary to give effect to the Regulations and to maintain regulatory certainty in Nigeria’s digital lending market, in line with the xommission’s statutory mandate. "The compliance window provided under the Regulations has now closed. At this stage, the Commission is proceeding with appropriate enforcement steps in a manner that is fair, orderly, and consistent with due pr...

Fresh facts have emerged on how bandits kidnapped 176 worshippers from three churches in Kaduna State.  The worshippers including men, women, and children were abducted on Sunday, January 18, in Kurmin Wali community. While nine persons escaped shortly after the attack, the remaining captors were led inside the forest.  Providing insight into the incident, Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW-N) said that bandits captured the victims during church service and forced over 100 worshippers into the bush. The affected churches are the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Albarka Cherubim and Seraphim 1 and Haske Cherubim and Seraphim 2, all in  Kajuru Local Government Area of the state. In a statement by CSW-N’s Research and Press Officer, Reuben Buhari, he accused security operatives of obstructing independent verification of the incident. He stated that its fact-finding team was prevented by soldiers from accessing Kurmin Wali, despite presenting valid ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has concluded plans to deploy 70,000 Environmental Public Health Officers (EPHOs) nationwide to monitor mandatory emission testing for generators and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as phased restrictions on highly polluting engines.  Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of EHCON, San. Yakubu Mohammed Baba disclosed this on Monday while addressing the media on alarming public health threat associated with air pollution in Nigeria.  The mandatory emission testing is part of the council’s strategy to strengthen environmental health surveillance and address environment-related diseases from Greenhouse Gas (GhGs) emissions in the interest of public health and national development.  Baba insisted that the declaration of GhG emissions as public health emergency aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu in strengthening environmental public health governance and protecting citizen...