Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has inaugurated caretaker committees to run the affairs of the local government councils in the state, pending the election of new councils.

At the ceremony held at the New Banquet Hall of the Government House, Makurdi, Mr Alia said that the action was in line with Section 21(3), subsections (1) and (2) of the Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2012, of the state.

He said that the caretaker committees were for 21 out of the 23 local councils, as the state House of Assembly had yet to confirm the nominees for Agatu and Oju local councils.

“I stand before you today to inaugurate the chairmen and members of local government interim councils following Section 21(3), subsections (1) and (2) of the Local Government (Amendment) Law 2012, as enacted by the esteemed Benue State House of Assembly.

“Today, we are witnessing the birth of a new era, an era of progress, unity and prosperity for the people of Benue State.

As we embark on this new chapter, as a government, we recognise the immense responsibility that lies upon our shoulders. Our primary duty is to serve the people, to be their voice, and to advocate for their needs and aspirations,” he said.

He tasked the new chairmen with ensuring that the concerns of the people were heard, their rights protected, and their lives improved.

“We must fulfil those expectations. To the chairmen and members of the interim councils, I urge you to embrace this opportunity to lead with integrity, transparency and fairness. Your role is not merely administrative; it is a chance to make a real difference in the lives of the people you represent.

“I encourage you to listen attentively to their needs, to engage in meaningful dialogue, and to collaborate with all stakeholders. By fostering an inclusive environment, we can harness the collective wisdom and strengths of our diverse population, ensuring a more prosperous future for all.

“Remember, leadership is not about personal gains or accolades; it is about service and sacrifice. It is about putting the needs of the people before our own and working tirelessly to create an enabling environment for growth, development and progress. Let us be guided by the principles of good governance, transparency and accountability at all times,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the ability of members of the committees to excel in their new responsibilities and urged them to serve with distinction, rise above limitations, break barriers and bring positive changes to the state.

“Finally, you will observe that only 21 interim chairmen have taken their oath of office. Our primary goal is to ensure a smooth and well-executed governance system that benefits both the government and the local communities it serves.

“While we understand the challenges and apprehension that come with such decisions, be assured that due processes will be followed to ensure the early inauguration of the remaining chairmen. As you proceed to your respective local governments, expedite the process of swearing in other members of your interim council,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the caretaker committees, the caretaker chairman of Konshisha LG, Philip Achua, pledged to justify their appointment by working towards the success of the administration.

The state House of Assembly had ordered the dissolution of the elected local councils after uncovering large-scale fraud in their operations.

The Emir of Zazzau in Kaduna State, Mallam Ahmed Bamalli, has condoled victims of recent drone attack by the army on Tudun Biri community in the Igabi Local Government Area of the state.

The monarch made the call in a message to journalists by the Emirate Council’s Media and Publicity Officer, Mallam Abdullahi Kwarbai, on Tuesday in Zaria.

Mr Bamalli said in spite of being outside the state on official engagements as of the time of the incident, he was briefed by the District Head of Rigasa whose area was affected and Administrator, Kaduna Metropolitan Authority, the Mr Samuel Aruwan.

The emir, therefore, commended and appreciated the prompt measures taken by Governor Uba Sani’s administration.

Commiserating with the families of the victims of the attack, the emir urged the community members to remain calm and shun attempts by some elements in the area who wanted to use the incident to cause chaos.

Mr Bamalli called for measures to forestall recurrence of the incident and prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed as he wished those with injuries speedy recovery.

Villagers in Tudun Biri, Igabi LGA of Kaduna State were killed during a Maulud celebration on Sunday.

The Defence Headquarters said the drone attack on the community was based on information about untoward activities of terrorists in the area.

The army said the Nigerian Army Unmanned Aerial Vehicle detachment had at about 2200hrs on Sunday, observed movement of terrorists at Ligarma, known to be a terrorist-infested area of Kaduna State.

It said the aerial surveillance captured movement of groups of persons synonymous with the terrorist tactics and modus operandi.

As part of the efforts to decongest the correctional centres, the federal government has settled N52 million in fines and compensation for 399 inmates at various centres across Kaduna State.

The state’s correctional service comptroller, Ado Saleh, disclosed this during the inauguration of the initiative at Zaria on Monday.

Mr Saleh said, “We are here to release 68 inmates from Zaria, Makarfi, Soba and Ikara correctional centres.”

He said 110 inmates were earlier released in Kaduna, adding that the ceremony in Zaria was a continuation of the programme designed and implemented by the federal government.

“The commencement of the programme is simultaneously taking place at Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria to see the release of 281 across the state.

“Of the 281 to be released across Kaduna State during the ceremony, 68 were from Za1ria Zone,” he said.

The comptroller explained that of the 68 inmates, 43 were from Zaria, 19 were from Soba, five were from Makarfi, and 19 were from Ikara correctional centres.

He added that each beneficiary would be given N10,000 to pay as transport fare.

Earlier, Olubunmi Ojo, Minister of Interior, said the initiative was to decongest the correctional centres.

Mr Ojo, represented by John Otuka, the ministry’s assistant legal adviser, said facilities and centres across the country were overstretched.

He added that the gesture was to reduce the number of inmates at the centres and leave the rest to the judiciary to act.

Mr Ojo said no fewer than 4,068 inmates would benefit from the initiative nationwide.

While speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Solomon Atambe, a resident of Railway Quarters, Sabon-Gari-Zaria, commended the federal government for the gesture.

The federal government on Monday resumed the trial of suspected Boko Haram members in the Kainji Prosecution Project Phase IV in Abuja.

Speaking at the opening of the court session, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the first phase commenced in 2017.

Mr Fagbemi said the federal government, in the 2017 trial, secured 366 convictions, while 896 others were discharged for lack of evidence and 61 cases adjourned for further hearings.

He said the resumption of the prosecution of terrorism suspects marked another step in ensuring the security and safety of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“There have been three phases of the exercise so far, spanning between October 2017 and July 2018.

“I must, at this point, challenge all stakeholders to ensure that the momentum is sustained, seeing how important this assignment is to the wellbeing of our beloved country and its people,” he said.

Mr Fagbemi said the federal government would deploy resources to enhance its prosecutorial capacities.

He added that the ministry would continue to support efforts towards the deradicalisation and reintegration of repentant terrorists.

“I would like to urge the prosecutors and defence counsel to continue to maintain the highest levels of professional standards in this national assignment,” Mr Fagbemi added.

On his part, the Director of Criminal Justice, Legal Aid Council, Abdulfattah Bakre, said they had the consent of the defendants to represent them in the case.

“We were in Kainji some years ago, and also recently, we were in Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, where we interacted with them, and we have been fully instructed to represent them,” he said.

The National Human Rights Commission representative said they would ensure the defendants’ rights were respected during the trial.

The Attorney General personally commenced the prosecution of the suspects at the resumed hearing on Monday.

The trial is being presided over by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, said the resumption of the trial was in line with Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law and human rights-based approach to countering terrorism.

The Board of Immigration, Civil Defence, Fire and Correctional Services has approved the promotion of 32,361 personnel from the four services.

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed details of the promotions through the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Audi, on Friday in Abuja.

A total of 4, 498 of those promoted were personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service out of the 7,000 wardens who sat for the promotion examination.

Also, 4, 598 Immigration officers out of 6,544 were promoted while 1,680 out of 1,698 fire service personnel who sat for the promotion examinations were elevated.

The majority of those promoted were, however, from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) which had 21,385 out of its 25,951 that sat for the promotion examinations coming out successful.

The minister said it was the first time in the history of the board that such a huge number of officers were promoted.

Tunji-Ojo charged the beneficiaries to commit themselves to the service of the nation.

“You should see this promotion as a new frontier in the way and manner you carry out your responsibilities; promotions come with enormous responsibilities and to whom much is given, much is expected,” he added.

On Friday, Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court declared incumbent President Andry Rajoelina as the winner of last month’s election, effectively handing him a third term.

Mr Rajoelina got 58.96 per cent of the votes cast, the court said after dismissing various challenges lodged against the provisional results announced by the electoral body.

“Andry Rajoelina is elected as the president of the republic of Madagascar and is taking his functions as soon as the swearing (is conducted),” said Florent Rakotoarisoa, the head of the high constitutional court.

One of the challenges dismissed included one from the runner-up, lawmaker Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, who got 14.39 per cent of the vote, according to the court.

Ten out of 13 candidates boycotted the poll, but their names were already on the ballot, leaving them to share the remaining votes. Turnout was 46.35 per cent, the court said.

The November 16 election was preceded by weeks of protests, with the opposition accusing Mr Rajoelina of creating unfair election conditions.

Mr Rajoelina has dismissed allegations of unfairness of the vote, and the army has warned against attempts to destabilise the country.

The opposition has described voter turnout as the lowest in the country’s history.

Hajo Andrianainarivelo, a former minister among the candidates who boycotted the poll, has vowed to fight against what he said was a lack of respect for the laws of the land and oppression of the people.

“The popular fight begins now,” he said on Thursday.Mr Rajoelina, 49, first came to power in a 2009 coup.

He stepped down in 2014 as leader of a transitional authority but then became president again after winning a 2018 election.

The Jigawa government has approved over N1 billion for foreign scholarships and school infrastructure development projects in the state.

The approval was announced in a statement by information commissioner Sagir Musa on Friday.

The State Executive Council (SEC) approved the projects during its meeting on Thursday.

Mr Musa said the SEC approved 534,372 dollars sequel to a memo presented by the ministry of higher education seeking payment of tuition, accommodation, application fees, and foreign students support services in respect of 184 indigent students transferred from Sudan to Near East University, Cyprus.

The commissioner said the SEC also approved N312 million for the payment of 12 months’ living allowances, visa, air tickets, and other logistics for travel arrangements of the affected students.

The commissioner said the SEC equally approved the N697.8 million counterpart fund for the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

He said this would facilitate the construction of 156 new classrooms, renovation of 207 others, construction of 39 toilets, provision of 68 handpumps and boreholes, and supply of 14,016 sets of classroom furniture and perimeter fence in various schools across Jigawa.

Mr Musa said the council approved N73 million for hostels, senior staff quarters and library rehabilitation projects at two secondary schools.

He said the projects would also facilitate the procurement and installation of solar-powered pumps at Government Day Science Secondary School Hadejia and Kafin Hausa, respectively.

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has approved more than N1.3 billion for the payment of final examination fees for indigent pupils in public secondary schools in the state.

The Chief Executive Officer, Planning and Research Department of the state Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Mukhtar Abdulmumini, disclosed this in Katsina during the fourth quarter meeting of the social protection Technical Working Group.

The meeting, which was in line with the social protection policy, was supported by UNICEF, in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

According to Abdulmumini, within the period, N370.9 million was spent on 20,269 pupils who sat for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

He added that N992.9 million was approved for 48,385 students who sat for the National Examination Council.

He stated, “Also, the sum of N27.9 million was paid for 1,878 who sat for the National Board for Arabic and Islamic examination.”

He also said that N4.5 million was paid for pupils who took the National Business and Technical Examination Board exams.

According to him, the amount spent for the payment of final examinations for the state’s indigenes in this quarter is more than N1.3 billion.

He said payment of the examination fees was an effort to encourage the indigent pupils who sat for their various final examinations including WAEC, NECO, NBAIS and NABTEB.

Mr Abdulmumini further revealed that in an effort to reduce the rate of unemployment and boost education in the state, the government had recruited 7,325 new teachers for primary and secondary schools.

“Within the period, no fewer than 350 evaluators received training on essential quality assurance skills for teachers. The government has also procured chemistry materials to 30 schools at N26 million.

Katsina state, in collaboration with UNICEF and in their effort on climate change, granted N150, 000 to 25 schools in five LGAs each. The grant will be used for the prevention of desert encroachment and erosion through planting trees in their schools and to take other measures.

The disbursement of the grant is the first phase, the second phase will be disbursed soon and is N100,000.

The benefiting LGAs include Bindawa, Funtua, Bakori, Kaita and Jibia,” Mr Abdulmumini said.

The Civil Liberties Organisation has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the failed Nkwelle-Nsugbe-Umueri-Aguleri federal road in Anambra State.

Chairman of CLO in the state, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, said the organisation was making a passionate and life-saving appeal to President Bola Tinubu; Minister of Work, Chief David Umahi and the Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency to declare emergency on the Nkwelle-Nsugbe-Umueri-Aguleri federal road,Ezekwueme who spoke in Enugu on Tuesday said that President Tinubu should out of patriotism and magnanimity send his minister of works to urgently visit the deplorable road.

According to him, the road has made life unbearable for those living around the axis.

“Instead of acting as a link, the road has disconnected the vast majority of our people due to its failed state. Those living or coming in have been cut off completely due to its inaccessible and despicable state, ” he said.

The CLO boss also reiterated its earlier call on the Federal Government to expedite action towards construction of Enugu-Ugwuoba-Awka-Onitsha and Nnewi-Uga-Okigwe federal roads.

“These federal roads, when done, will ameliorate devastating and excruciating sufferings and hardships citizens, visitors and road users experience on a daily basis,” he said.

He noted that the poor condition of the roads had worsened insecurity in Anambra and the neighbouring Enugu State.

President Bola Tinubu has sought the approval of the Senate for a 2023-2024 external borrowing plan of $8.6 billion and €100 million.

Mr Tinubu disclosed the borrowing plan in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpiabio and read at plenary on Tuesday.

Mr Tinubu said the request for the borrowings was earlier contained in the 2022 to 2024 external borrowing plans approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari at the Federal Executive Council on May 15.

The president said the federal government needed external borrowing to bridge the country’s financial gap, stating that the funds would be used to execute key infrastructure projects, including power, railway, and health projects.

“The projects cut across all sectors with specific emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, water supply, security, employment generation amongst others,” said Mr Tinubu.

He said following the removal of fuel subsidy and its attendant impact on the economy, the African Development Bank and the World Bank Group indicated interest to assist Nigeria in mitigating the impact.

Mr Tinubu said the projects and programmes in the borrowing plan were selected based on positive technical and economic evaluation and their expected contribution to the country’s economic development.

The president also listed employment generation, skills acquisition, support towards the emergence of entrepreneurs, poverty education and food security to improve the livelihood of Nigerians as reasons for the facility.

Mr Akpiabio mandated the Senate committee on local and foreign debt to look at the letter for further legislative work and report back in one week.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Monday swore in four new permanent secretaries in the state’s Civil Service.

During the ceremony, Abiodun stated that the permanent secretaries were chosen based on seniority, merit, and the overall interest of the people of the state.

“My administration will continue to build on the foundation laid in the last four years.

“My administration has placed a premium on skills, experience, and honesty, and will continue to prioritize the welfare of workers in the state,” he said.

The governor encouraged the incoming permanent secretaries to collaborate closely with their respective commissioners.

The new permanent secretaries- Mrs Roseline Jacob, Mr Samuel Oyeleye, Mrs Kehinde Akinola and Mr Oladipupo Ogunfowora.

Later, in an interview, Jacob and Oyeleye expressed gratitude to the governor for appointing them as permanent secretaries in the state’s civil service.

They promised to add value to the current administration’s programmes.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has approved constituency projects for all the 236 councillors in the state.

Mr Abiodun stated this in a statement issued on Monday in Abeokuta by his chief press secretary, Lekan Adeniran.

According to the statement, Mr Abiodun spoke when he received the councillors who were on ground to pass a vote of confidence in his administration and also thank him for paying their full furniture allowance.

The approval, the governor said, was in fulfilment of his promise to ensure the councillors executed projects in their various constituencies as the closest to the people at the grassroots.

Mr Abiodun, who recently approved the full payment of furniture allowance to the 236 councillors, also promised to ensure their continuous empowerment.

“You have reminded me of my promise to you about your constituency projects. Consider that done because you are the closest to the grassroots. You are the ones representing us at the grassroots. You will not be put to shame.

“I am a promise-keeping governor. Whatever promise I make to you, I will definitely keep it.

“I also promised that I was going to ensure that you are sufficiently empowered. You are politicians, you must be empowered to continue to empower your various constituencies and I think I am trying,” he said.

Mr Abiodun also thanked the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and called on opposition members to stop running around ‘to buy judgements’ and join his administration in moving the state to the next level.

He said that the state remained the fastest growing economy in the country, even as he ascribed the success to the team which shared the same vision with him.

The governor promised that his administration would spend the next three-and-a-half years building on the solid foundation laid in his first term, noting that no stone would be left unturned.

Earlier, the chairman of the state forum of councillors, Olanrenwaju Adeleye, thanked the governor for approving and paying their full furniture allowance.

Mr Adeleye also acknowledged Mr Abiodun for executing at least a project in each of the 236 wards of the state.

He commended the governor for not abandoning projects left behind by the immediate past administration in the state.

A public procurement advocacy group, Network for the Actualization of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD) has decried that 70 percent of procurement proceedings are being initiated and concluded in the bedrooms of privileged few in the country, even as it commended the Federal Government over plan to review the public procurement Act 2007 for possible amendments.

The group in a statement, signed by its head of office, Mr Akingunola Omoniyi and made available at the weekend in Abuja. said President Bola Tinubu has again demonstrated courage and tact in tackling one of the most vicious enemies of the country’s growth and development.

Akingunola stressed that ‘’the current Public Procurement Act enacted about 15 years ago is due for review in line with global best practices and changing operational dynamics in the public contracting sector.”

He noted that the Public Procurement in Nigeria has become an ‘anything goes’ phenomenon whereby everything and anything is possible maintaining that the Public Procurement Act in its current form is creating veneer of legality to blatant procurement illegality.

He said: “The Act as it stands has been so bastardised to such an extent that restricted/selective tendency is now a norm rather than exception with more than 70 percent of procurement proceedings being initiated and concluded in the bedrooms of privileged few on whom the Act placed so much supervisory and regulatory responsibilities.

The implication of this dastardly act is that 70 percent of the contract sum ended up under the same bedroom through which the procurement proceedings emanated as against solving critical national developmental problems.”

Akingunola emphasised that the Public Procurement Act is not creating any obstruction or impediment to development as what some self serving elements will want the people to belief, the only timeline set out by the Procurement Act is the mandatory six weeks newspaper advertisement period for bid solicitation, and the wisdom in this is to promote competitiveness that will ensure economy and value for money, all other timeline and processes are at the discretion of procuring entities.

The statement further emphasised that for the country to be littered with over 11,000 abandoned federal projects alone under a regulated procurement system shows that it is the corrupt few that are now regulating their pockets.

‘’One of the major contributing factor for the bastardization of the procurement system in the country is that successive governments are in the habit of enforcing the Procurement Act in breach by the non constitution of the National Procurement Council and appointing Director General for the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) through the back door of non-competitive selection.

Akingunola admonished president Tinubu not to consider the distractive proposal of some people making the President head of National Procurement Council, noting that presidents all over the world only sit to discuss policies and programmes not with contractors to debate contracts either at weekly Federal Executive Council or as Chairman of a National Procurement Council.

He also advised the government to enslaved stiffer sanctions against rampant mis-procurement particularly reverse-procurement whereby procurement proceedings are initiated and sometimes concluded without cashbacking.

Hundreds of women staged a protest march to the Kano State Police Command to show their displeasure over the recent Court of Appeal nullification of the election of Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The women, who carried placards and sang songs in support of Mr Yusuf, said they were protesting the alleged injustice done to the people of Kano State by the appellate court.

The protesters, who began their march from the residence of former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso at Miller Road, went peacefully straight to the Kano State Police Command Headquarters in Bompai to hand over their letter of protest.

However, on their way to Bompai area, they were intercepted by teams of police officers and personnel of the Nigeria Correctional Service, who escorted them peacefully to their destination.

The women, most of whom wore red veils, converged on the Kano State Police Command Headquarters and demanded to see Commissioner of Police Usaini Gumel.

The placards had various inscriptions such as “Our mandate must be restored,” “Injustice exposed in CTC,” and “Kano voted for Abba,” among others.

One of them, Zuwaira Abubakar, said: “The protest is not for Abba alone but for Kano State. The world has seen that Governor Abba was voted for during the March 18 polls. The state should not be taken away from him.”

Another protester pleaded with the federal government to stop “interfering with the courts” and allow justice to be done.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Friday, upheld the election victory of Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi.

The three-member panel, in a unanimous judgement, dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Aminu Bande, for lack of merit.

The appellate court, in a judgement delivered by Justice Ndukwe Anyannwu, resolved all the five issues formulated for determination in favour of the governor and against PDP.

The court held that the appellants failed to establish all the allegations brought up against the governor in their petition.

It held that the allegations of forgery of testimonial brought against the deputy governor of the state, Abubakar Umar Tafida, could not be established as required by law.

It also held that the issues of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act in the conduct of the election could not stand because the appellants failed to prove how the allegations substantially affected the poll.

The court, consequently, affirmed the judgement of the Kebbi State governorship election petition tribunal, which had earlier dismissed the petition.

The election petition tribunal had, on Oct. 5, affirmed Mr Idris as the duly elected governor.

The three-member tribunal dismissed the petition by the PDP and its governorship candidate, Mr Bande.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the March 18 Kebbi gubernatorial election inconclusive owing to “massive vote cancellation and overvoting” in 20 of the 21 LGAs in the state.

The commission later fixed April 15 for a supplementary election.

At the end of the exercise, Mr Idris, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 409,225 votes to beat Mr Bande, who got 360,940 votes.

Mr Bande and his party rejected the result and filed a petition before the tribunal.In the petition, the petitioners alleged that there was over-voting in some polling units and that Idris was not qualified to contest the poll.

They also alleged that the deputy governor had submitted a fake secondary school testimonial to INEC.

However, in the judgement, Ofem Ofem, the chairman of the tribunal, held that the petitioners failed to prove beyond doubt that the third respondent (deputy governor) presented a fake certificate to INEC.

Mr Ofem added that the evidence presented showed that the testimonial in question was duly signed and issued to him by the then principal of Sultan Abubakar College, Sokoto, in 1982.

The tribunal chairman described the documents presented by the petitioners as “iron cast evidence”, saying, “We state categorically that the third respondent did not forge certificate”.

On the issue of over-voting, Ofem said out of the 59 polling units being questioned, irregularities were discovered in nine.

The panel deducted 1,735 votes from APC, while over 900 votes were also taken away from PDP’s results.

The chairman, however, said the deduction of the votes would not affect the margin between the election winner and the runner-up.

He added that there was no substantial evidence to prove over-voting and irregularities in other polling units.

The Bauchi government has approved the renovation of four emir palaces in the state, with a total budget of N2.2 billion.

The palaces include those of the emirs of Bauchi, Jama’are, Ningi, and Dass.

The Commissioner for Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ahmed Sarki Jalam, announced the decision after the State Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Bala Mohammed.

He said the renovation aims to create a conducive environment for traditional institutions, enabling the smooth discharge of duties by the traditional rulers.

Additionally, the State Executive Council has given the green light for the renovation of 16 strategic roads and two flyover bridges, totalling N100 billion, to enhance traffic flow and beautify the city centre.

Commissioners for Works and Transport, Ibrahim Galadim, and his counterpart at Special Duties and Rural Development, Faruq Mustapha, said the projects have been awarded to competent contractors in line with the developmental initiatives of the Governor Bala Mohammed-led administration.

The project comprises two flyover bridges at the busiest areas of Wunti Market and Central Market roundabouts to beautify and decongest traffic in the city centre at a cost of N20 billion.

The execution of the road project has already commenced with the construction works on the dualisation of the 11-kilometre Ningi-Gudduba road in Ningi township for a whopping sum of N10.3 billion.

Some of the road projects that are part of the 200-kilometre construction across the three senatorial zones include the 29-kilometre Boi-Gambar-Sara-Marti-Lere road at a cost of N11.3 billion; rehabilitation of Dindima-Yashi-Maina Maji road; 5.2-kilometre dualisation from Emir’s palace in Azare to Setraco roundabout; dualisation of 7-kilometre road from A.D. Rufa’i College to Misau town; construction of 2.6-kilometre Gwallameji-Doka-Rafin Zurfi-Dass road; 4.5-kilometre Sabon Kaura-Birshi Gandu-BRC road; construction of 1.1-kilometre Bayara township road; construction of 4-kilometre Zango-Gwallagan-Mayaka access road.

Other constructions are Shari’a Court of Appeal; 22-kilometre Darazo-Gabciyari road; 2.6-kilometre internal road at Bauchi State University Gadau; 29-kilometre Adamani-Disina road in Jama’are Local Government Area; and 42-kilometre Geljaule-Lame road.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has directed the education secretariat of the FCT Administration to reconstruct the classrooms of Local Education Authority Primary School, Bagusa, Abuja.

The school under Abuja Municipal Area Council, with a population of about 200 pupils, had only six classes and a crèche built by the community, but without walls, except a zinc roof supported by pillars of wood.

The class has only 16 desks, and of the six classes, only the crèche section had a cement floor, forcing the pupils to sit on the bare floor to learn.

The Mandate Secretary, Education Secretariat, FCTA, Dr Danlami Hayyo, made this known shortly after inspecting the school in Abuja on Thursday.

He told journalists that Wike was concerned about the condition of the school and the challenge it poses to the learning outcomes of the pupils.

He said that for the short and long-term solution to the problem, the administration would complete the construction of existing classrooms built by the community and construct additional classrooms for the school.

This, according to him, will ensure the pupils properly transit from the primary level to junior secondary school on the same site.

He added that the construction would be executed swiftly and efficiently to guarantee a conducive learning environment for the pupils.

He said that FCTA would collaborate with relevant authorities and stakeholders like the Universal Basic Education Board on the counterpart funding to expedite construction of the classrooms.

To further safeguard the school land, Hayyo advised community members to keep off the school land.

He explained that the school was built by the previous administration.

He said that the deplorable state of the school was brought to the minister’s attention through a media publication and immediately directed an inspection visit and immediate action.

He added that the school would be converted to a modern school where both primary and junior secondary schools would be situated in the same location to ensure transition from primary to junior secondary school.

“At the secretariat level, we are committed to addressing the underlying issues that led to this unacceptable situation. We will work tirelessly to enhance infrastructure and ensure that no child’s education is compromised by inadequate facilities or unsafe conditions,” the mandate secretary said.

The pioneer Head Teacher of the school, Mr Chebawaza Katungu, expressed happiness that the school had received the minister’s attention for prompt intervention.

This, according to him, will ensure a safer and more suitable learning environment for quality teaching and learning.

Also speaking, the Chief of Bagusa Community, Mr Zakka Iyah, thanked the FCT minister for the prompt intervention.

Mr Iyah assured of the community’s cooperation when the construction would begin.

The Federal Government has approved the establishment of crèches at markets and workplaces nationwide to optimise working mothers’ productivity and promote breastfeeding.

President Bola Tinubu disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the inauguration of the remodelled workplace nursery (crèche) by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

Represented by the Special Assistant on Health, Dr Salma Anas, the President said the innovation would enhance national development.

He commended the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, for her laudable achievements within 100 days of her assumption of duty.

“We will continue to support you to replicate this in every state of the federation and in every workplace. This will be extended to those working in the informal sector because more women are working outside the formal sector.

“So, working with you and all our partners that are here, we hope to replicate and ensure we have workplace crèches for mothers working in the formal and informal sectors, as well the market place,’’ he said.

The President said the renaming of the Centre after Victoria Gowon, wife of a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, was apt as the facility would contribute to the achievements of his Renewed Hope Agenda.

“It is a great landmark that we are witnessing, because this aligns with the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda for economic growth of Nigeria, for revamping Nigeria and putting it back on track.

“We cannot achieve Renewed Hope for Nigeria without focusing on the future of our nation. The future of our nation are our children and it starts right from birth by encouraging breastfeeding for their physical and mental growth,” he said.

Ealier, the minister said the crèche would be upgraded to nursery and primary school in the future.

She also mulled having women and children hospitals across the nation, starting from the six geopolitical zones to the states.

Kennedy-Ohanenye reiterated the commitment of her ministry to the empowerment of women especially in the area of agriculture and elimination of all forms of violence and harmful traditional practices in society.

The Abia Government on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the preliminary test sessions for students of the School of Nursing, Amachara and the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr Okey Kanu, disclosed this during a news conference on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia.

Some students of the schools had on Thursday protested and alleged that the examinations were manipulated by their various schools. The students called for the cancellation of the examination.

Mr Kanu said that the cancellation was done by the government based on allegations of wrongdoings during the exercise.

“As a responsive government, a committee was set and the preliminary report of the committee showed that the exams be cancelled while investigations continue,” he added.

Mr Kanu said that the government committed to promoting transparency in its activities.

“Rest assured that very soon there will be another exam to ensure that all the issues associated with the problem are put right,” he stated.

The Principal Secretary to the Governor, Mr Chinenye Mba, said the committee had met with stakeholders and leaders of both institutions to ascertain what went wrong during the examination.

“After reviewing all the information that had been gathered from all the concerned parties, it was clear that the examination could have been conducted better to maintain the integrity expectation of an examination.

“We are still looking into the matter to ascertain exactly what went wrong or during the examination and how these things can be corrected,” Mr Mba said.

Also, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, said that the government had set up the right machinery to intervene in the issue.

Mr Ekeoma said that the intervention of the government was in tandem with the promises made by Dr Alex Otti during the inauguration of the present administration.

He said that the administration had declared a state of emergency in the health sector upon assumption of office, and urged stakeholders to support the government’s efforts to transform the sector.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday ordered the two factions in the Rivers House of Assembly to suspend further sitting and maintain status quo, pending the dispensation of the matter.

A factional speaker of the assembly, Edison Ehie in Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/240/2023, approached the court, presided over by Justice Phoebe Ayua.

He prayed the court to stop Martins Amaewhule, the former Speaker of the House of Assembly and the other lawmakers from presiding over the activities of the legislative arm of the state.

In the suit, the plaintiffs are the River State House of Assembly as first and Ehie (Speaker, River State House of Assembly) as second.

The defendants are the factional speaker of the assembly, Martins Amaewhule, Dumle Moal, former deputy speaker, the Inspector-General of Police, Director, Department of State Security Services, Rivers State and Commissioner of Police.

In her ruling, Justice Ayua ordered all the parties to respect the court order, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The order directed the plaintiff/applicants to put the respondents on notice forthwith.

“That an order is, however, made, directing that all parties on record to respect the court and should not take any step concerning the subject matter, since the matter is already before this court – sub judice – pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

In the suit, the plaintiffs sought, among others, a declaration that the former speaker and his deputy, having been removed and suspended from the house, are not entitled to participate, disturb, interfere or obstruct the performance of the legislative proceedings and duties of the new speaker.

This, they said, was in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

The plaintiff also sought for an order restraining the former speaker and the deputy from interfering or participating in the functions of the House of Assembly.

The court was adjourned until November 27 for hearing.

The assembly broke into two factions when Amaewhule and some members attempted to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the state.