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52% of ongoing road construction in northern Nigeria – Umahi
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that 52 per cent of the ongoing road construction projects initiated by the current administration are concentrated in northern Nigeria.
Umahi also commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the necessary funding, as well as providing leadership for the construction of the 1068-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway.
He made this known during an inspection of a segment of the 258-kilometre, 3-lane Carriageway (Section 2, Phase 2A: CH 120+000-CH 378+000) in Gulumbe, Kebbi State, which represents a significant portion of the 1,068-kilometre Super Highway.
He explained that the focus on the northern region aligns with the government’s commitment to improving infrastructure across the country.
A statement issued by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, on Wednesday, said the minister revealed that the four legacy road projects initiated by Tinubu encompass all six geopolitical zones of the country.
The statement read, “When aggregated, the Northern zones account for 52 per cent of the road projects currently ongoing across the country. The president is working everywhere in the country.
“This is a true reflection of Mr President’s stance that every region of this country matters, and no region should be left behind or shortchanged.”
He also pointed out that the concept for the ambitious Coastal Highway project, which stretches from Lagos to Calabar, was first envisioned by the President during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State almost twenty-five years ago, describing its realisation as the fulfilment of a long-held dream that has now become a reality under his leadership.
In his address, the governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, expressed his gratitude to the President for his support and the numerous projects being executed in the state.
Idris emphasised that the inspection underscores the Administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure and transportation as vital enablers of growth, as outlined in the eight-point Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister of State, Bello Goronyo, stated that the project “is a promise kept by the President and that the road must be completed.”
“Mr President is passionate about the welfare of every Nigerian, regardless of their origin,” Goronyo added.
Also at the event, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Bagudu stated, “As we all know, the world is no longer building infrastructure solely through government funding but exploring innovative financing models. Mr. President, having invested in relationships, both in Nigeria and abroad, finds it easier to engage individuals and partners willing to contribute to funding these massive endeavours.”
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Olufunsho Adebiyi, welcomed dignitaries to the project site, promising that, “By the time you are here again, you will see it at a different level.”
Also present during the inspection tour was a former Governor of Kebbi State, H.E. (Sen.) Usman Dakingari; Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Usman Ankwai; SSA-P on Community Engagement for the North West Zone, Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai; SSG of Kebbi State, Alh. Yakubu Bala Tafida; Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Abdullahi Umar Farouk; MD/CEO of Hitech Africa Construction Limited, Mr. Dany Abboud, and many others.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
In their dedication to ensuring zero dose, the African Health Budget Network (AHBN) has appealed to mother’s and caregivers in Sokoto State to always prioritize child immunization always.
Making the appeal in a signed press release as part of their commitment to the ongoing International Women Day’s celebration, AHBN) State Focal Person,
Umar Garba Kadi, said vaccines are safe and protect children from preventable diseases.
Garba Kadi who also appreciated Sokoto State government for it’s support to ensuring meeting a zero dose, however, appealed for more commitment and support to make immunization more appealing and accessible especially for parents and caregivers at the rural areas.
Continuing, Kadi said,
“The observance of the International Women Day, is draw attention to the importance of women and the critical roles they play generally. And in line with that, we want to also use the avenue to send a reminder of the importance of prioritizing our children’s health.
“We therefore, urge all mothers and caregivers to ensure their children receive all recommended vaccines,” Garba Kadi advised.
Talking on the mission of African Health Budget Network, the Sokoto State Focal Person, Garba Kadi re-affirmed that it is dedicated to advocating for health budget transparency and sustainability and ensuring all children receive life saving vaccinations.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has revealed that reforms in the oil and gas sector, driven by the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and Executive Orders issued by President Bola Tinubu, attracted about $17bn in foreign investment in 2024.
The Executive Vice President of Upstream, Udy Ntia, disclosed this during an investor session at the 2025 CERAWeek by S&P Global in Houston, Texas, USA.
This was contained in a statement issued by NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, on Wednesday.
He noted that the reforms have significantly liberalised the regulatory framework, offering incentives for cost recovery, royalty payments, and profit-sharing mechanisms.
Speaking on the theme, “Spotlight: Attracting Investment for Oil and Gas”, Ntia emphasised that Nigeria was well-positioned as a safe and attractive destination for investment as the nation is currently expanding its oil and gas industry to meet rising global energy demand driven by geopolitical tensions and the energy policies of the US administration.
“For us in Nigeria, despite global energy security concerns, including those in Europe, we see significant opportunities. We have strategically positioned our assets to leverage the current strong price environment, which has remained favourable over the past two to three years. As a result, we anticipate substantial investment inflows into the sector,” he stated.
Ntia called on global investors to direct their attention to the Nigerian oil and gas sector as the nation is now an investors’ haven owing to the robust regulatory reforms and the investment-friendly policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The EVP listed some of the areas with huge investment opportunities in the country including the refining and gas sub-sectors.
He stressed that Nigeria was keen on expanding its refining capacity to reduce dependency on imports, even as it is also interested in tapping into the nation’s vast gas reserves of about 207 trillion cubic feet to drive industrialisation and economic growth.
“Gas will play a critical role in Nigeria’s energy future. We are expanding our gas infrastructure in collaboration with partners such as Shell, ENI, and Total. Our LNG Train 7 project is advancing, and we are investing in domestic pipeline networks to meet local energy demands,” he explained.
He encouraged foreign investors, particularly from China and India, to explore the investment opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, citing the country’s large crude oil reserves (over 37 billion barrels) and flexible investment models, including joint ventures and production-sharing contracts.
“Nigeria offers a stable democracy, improved security, and a business-friendly regulatory framework. We welcome investors from China, India, and beyond to partner with us in unlocking the vast potential of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector,” Ntia stated.
The session featured global industry leaders such as the Deputy Director General of Planning, China National Petroleum Corporation, Pinxian Zhang; Managing Director of ONGC Videsh Ltd, Rajarshi Gupta; and Chairman of Libya’s National Oil Corporation, Masoud Mahmoud.
CERAWeek is one of the largest energy conferences in the world, drawing thousands of foremost global energy industry experts and a host of other corporate and government leaders from around the world annually to Houston, United States, for a week-long conversation on the future of energy.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, for Friday, March 21.
This decision was confirmed on Wednesday after the case file was transferred to Justice Omotosho following a reassignment.
Kanu is facing a seven-count terrorism charge brought against him by the Federal Government.
Justice Omotosho was assigned the case after Justice Binta Nyako, the previous judge presiding over the matter, recused herself.
Justice Nyako’s recusal on September 24, 2024, followed allegations of bias raised by Kanu and his legal team, who requested the transfer of the case to another judge.
However, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court initially returned the case to Justice Nyako, insisting that Kanu and his legal team must file a formal application for the recusal to be accepted.
Meanwhile, Kanu opposed being made to appear before Justice Nyako in the next proceedings, which led to his case being adjourned sine die (indefinitely).
On February 20, 2025, Kanu’s legal team wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, seeking her intervention.
They requested that the case be reassigned to another judge in the Federal High Court in Abuja or transferred to the Southeast.
Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, in a statement on Saturday, March 8, revealed that they had received two separate letters regarding the case.
One letter from the CJN and the other letter he said was from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, informing them that the case had been reassigned to another judge of the Federal High Court.
Justice Omotosho will now preside over the case, with proceedings set to resume on March 21, 2025.