The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • 2027 election won’t stall infrastructure projects in FCT – Wike

    2027 election won’t stall infrastructure projects in FCT – Wike

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, assured that political activities ahead of the next general elections will not hinder the pace of infrastructure development in the nation’s capital.

    Wike gave the assurance while briefing journalists after conducting a routine inspection of ongoing projects across Abuja.

    Responding to questions on potential political distractions, the minister stressed that service delivery remains the administration’s top priority, reaffirming his commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda and the infrastructure targets of the FCT Administration.

    He said, “Politics is different; you have to serve the people. Politics has its own time. The work will continue to go on. Politics is not going to affect it. If you say so, the Area Council elections are coming up in the next few weeks. Are we not doing our work? It doesn’t affect us. What is important is for us to pay the contractor. From time to time, too, we will come and see for ourselves. So, the politics of 2027 will not affect our job. The only way it will affect is that people will be happy and see that the Renewed Hope Agenda is real.”

    Read Also: Why Tinubu approved Southeast Investment Company – Shettima

    The minister also provided updates on key projects inspected during the tour, including the Collector Road C01 within the Institute and Research District. The road links Baze University, the Body of Benchers, Nile University, and the Wupa Train Station of the Abuja Light Rail.

    Wike disclosed that substantial progress has been recorded on the project, adding that the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), has committed to completing the road by May 2026, positioning it for possible inauguration during President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary in office.

    He further revealed that the Annex Building of the Body of Benchers has reached 80 per cent completion, expressing satisfaction with the pace and quality of work.

    Speaking on the access road connecting Bill Clinton Drive to the Tungan Madaki community, Wike explained that the 7-kilometre road, which includes a four-span bridge, forms part of a compensation arrangement for the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. He added that the project is scheduled for completion and handover by the second week of June 2026.

    To further enhance connectivity, the minister said he has directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to collaborate with CCECC on a design to extend the Tungan Madaki access road to connect with the Zuba Road corridor.

    “We are opening up other areas. You can imagine what the people here suffer during the rainy season; it’s unimaginable,” Wike said.

    “I have directed the Executive Secretary to liaise with the company, CCECC, to see how we can link it up to Zuba road. I’ve directed them to bring the design, and that again is about 7 kilometres. There is nothing we cannot do as far as this administration is concerned to give the people what they deserve, the best.”

  • Taskforce warns uniformed personnel against operating Okada on restricted routes

    Taskforce warns uniformed personnel against operating Okada on restricted routes

    The chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, has warned uniformed personnel against operating commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, on highways and other restricted routes across the state.

    Akerele gave the warning during an ongoing clean-up enforcement operation aimed at ridding Lagos of commercial motorcycles operating on prohibited routes.

    Addressing uniformed personnel who visited his office to appeal for the release of impounded motorcycles seized during enforcement, the Taskforce chairman urged them to comply with extant traffic and environmental laws or risk prosecution.

    “I am not wicked, but I am also not weak, and I do not want to be perceived as a weak leader,” he said.

    He noted that it sends a wrong signal when security personnel, who are expected to enforce the law, are found violating it.

    “As security operatives, we understand the need for you to get to your duty posts on time. However, whatever means you adopt to get there must fall within the ambit of the law. If you are properly dressed in your official uniform and not carrying passengers, your colleagues may exercise discretion to avoid arrest,” he said.

    He urged them to adhere to professional standards and refrain from engaging in activities capable of tarnishing the image of their respective agencies.

    Read Also: Why Tinubu approved Southeast Investment Company – Shettima

    “It is embarrassing to the State and the nation to see military, paramilitary, and police personnel using uniforms worn by distinguished veterans as immunity to evade arrest by operating commercial motorcycles, especially when they are expected to be combating criminal activities within their jurisdictions,” he added.

    The Taskforce, however, said it has intensified its clean-up enforcement operations across the state.

    Areas visited during the latest operation include Ikoyi, Abraham Adesanya Junction, Ogombo, Coastal Road, Ajah, Falomo, and Marina, where some Okada operators were allegedly found violating traffic regulations and constituting a nuisance on highways and newly constructed coastal roads.

    The agency said a total of 124 motorcycles were confiscated between January 31 and the time of filing this report.

    It added that all confiscated motorcycles would be forfeited to the state government through the courts in line with the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.

  • Kidnappers demand N260m for abducted children in Edo

    Kidnappers demand N260m for abducted children in Edo

    Kidnappers have demanded the sum of N260m as ransom to release four children abducted at Eko-Abeku-Iyowa road, within Evboneka community, Ovia North-East local government area.

    The children were said to have been abducted on Monday at about 5 pm while returning from school.

    Other victims that were abducted alongside the children were a nursing mother and her two younger sisters.

    Father of some of the victims, Festus Bamidele, said the abductors released the nursing mother and her small baby after a heavy rainfall.

    He said three other victims of pre-kg classes were also rescued by security operatives.

    Bamidele said the victims remaining with the kidnappers were two of his children, his younger sister, and a sister-in-law.

    Read Also: Why Tinubu approved Southeast Investment Company – Shettima

    He said the kidnappers have contacted the family and are demanding the sum of ₦260 million ransom.

    Edo Police Spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident and said five of the victims were rescued while four were taken away.

    “The command, in collaboration with hunters and vigilantes, has launched an intensive bush combing exercise for the kidnappers, with efforts ongoing to rescue the remaining victims.”

    Meanwhile, operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested two suspected kidnappers while on patrol along the Auchi–Igarra Highway, Edo North.

     Ikoedem said the suspects were identified as members of a kidnapping syndicate.

    The statement read, “The Edo State Police Command has recorded significant successes in the fight against kidnapping through proactive patrols and sustained intelligence-led operations in Igarra and its environs, in line with the crime-fighting strategies of the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc.

    “On 28 January 2026 at about 13:30hrs, operatives of the Igarra Area Command, while on duty at their traditional nipping point along the Auchi–Igarra Highway, arrested two suspected kidnappers identified as Muhammed Muamadu Haru ‘M’, aged 35 years, and Abubakar Muhammed Haruna ‘M’, aged 25 years.

    “The suspects were identified by a vigilante member as members of a kidnapping syndicate during an exchange of fire in one of the joint Bush Combing rescue operations.

    “Upon recognition, the suspects attempted to escape into the bush but were quickly intercepted and arrested. Investigation is still in progress.

    “In a related development on Monday, 2 February 2026, at about 17:00hrs, a convoy of motorcycle patrol teams from the Igarra Area Command foiled a kidnapping operation along the Auchi–Igarra Express Road. The patrol team intercepted three suspected kidnappers who were about to block the road.

    “The suspects fled into the forest after a hot chase, abandoning items suspected to be logistics for criminal operations, including food items, mobile phones, jack knives, and other personal effects. Sustained bush-combing of the area is ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.”

  • We won’t lose focus on governance despite our situation, says Fubara

    We won’t lose focus on governance despite our situation, says Fubara

    Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed to keep his focus on governance despite the ongoing political turbulence in the state.

    Fubara spoke on Wednesday shortly after inspecting the ongoing construction of the Borokiri and Creek market at the Town Area of Port Harcourt.

    The governor said he had promised the people of the state that he would continue to deliver on the mandate they had given to him.

    Fubara, who was cheered by crowd of residents, said rhe little he owed the people was to give them confidence in his administration.

    He said, “I promise our people that no matter the situation we are in, we will not loose focus on governance because our people have given us this trust and the little we owe them is to give them confidence in leadership and ensuring that governance continues strongly.”

    Read Also: Why Tinubu approved Southeast Investment Company – Shettima

    The governor said the project was part of efforts of his administration to restore the beauty of the Town area of Port Harcourt and stop people from trading along the road.

    He said, “You are aware that sometime last year I visited this place and I did promise that because we want to bring back the beauty of town to its old ambiance that the issue of people trading along the Creek Road and also in most of the major streets in town that there will be the need to fix the market. 

    “So, I went to check the ongoing projects that have to do with roads and after that I am here to see for myself what is going on in the market. 

    “From what you can see the contractor has already mobilised to site and I believe that in the next one week the project will commence. 

    “What are we trying to do? You can see the difficulty driving through the Creek Road and what is happening there? Because we don’t have good settlement for market. So if we fix this market those trading along the streets will vacate and will be inside the market. When they are inside the road can be properly fixed and the beauty of the town will start reflecting.

    “I mentioned that the roads were part of what we are doing. We are not fixing the market. We have to fix the market so that the people along the road will move in. The road rehabilitation is from Boriki down to every part of Port Harcourt township to ensure that the roads are properly fixed.”

  • JUST IN: Two Taraba senators dump PDP for APC

    JUST IN: Two Taraba senators dump PDP for APC

    Two senators representing Taraba State on Wednesday officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the defections during plenary after reading letters submitted by the lawmakers.

    Read Also: Why Tinubu approved Southeast Investment Company – Shettima

    The senators, Haruna Manu and Issa Shuaibu Lau, in separate letters read by Akpabio, attributed their decision to extensive consultations, internal crises within the PDP, and their determination to better serve their constituents.

    Akpabio subsequently confirmed their defection and directed the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, to formally receive the lawmakers into the APC, a development that further reshapes the political composition of the 10th Senate.

    The defections followed the recent move by Taraba State Governor, Kefas Agbu, who formally left the PDP for the APC last Saturday.

  • World Cancer Day: First Lady calls for people-centred care, early detection

    World Cancer Day: First Lady calls for people-centred care, early detection

    … says stronger response must be rooted in prevention, access to quality treatment

    …urges Nigerians to unite voices and actions for cancer-free future

    First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called for a stronger and more compassionate response to cancer, urging Nigerians to place people at the centre of care by listening to individual stories and recognising that every cancer journey is different.

    In a message to mark World Cancer Day 2026, observed on February 4 with the theme “UnitedByUnique,” the First Lady said building an effective national response to cancer requires empathy, prevention, and sustained support systems for patients and families.

    “By listening to individual stories and placing people at the centre of care, we can build a stronger, more compassionate response to cancer,” she said.

    Read Also: Why Tinubu approved Southeast Investment Company – Shettima

    According to her, such a response must be “rooted in prevention, early detection, access to quality treatment, and sustained support,” stressing that these pillars remain essential to reducing cancer-related deaths and improving outcomes across the country.

    Senator Tinubu also emphasised the need for collective action, saying progress will depend on a shared commitment by government, health professionals, civil society, families and communities.

    “Together, by uniting our voices and actions, we can move closer to a cancer-free future for all,” she said.

    She noted that the World Cancer Day theme serves as a reminder that while cancer affects individuals in unique ways, the hope for healing and survival is common to all.

    “Every cancer journey is different, yet our hope is shared,” the First Lady said.

    World Cancer Day is observed globally every February 4 to raise awareness about cancer, promote prevention, encourage early detection, and support efforts to improve treatment and care for patients.

  • West Africa’s security hinges on strategic partnerships – COAS 

    West Africa’s security hinges on strategic partnerships – COAS 

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, said Nigeria’s defence partnership with France remains critical to the country’s broader efforts to counter security threats in the West African region.

    General Shaibu said this on Wednesday when he engaged the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

    In a statement by the Army spokesperson, Colonel Apollonia Anele, the high-level engagement focused on strengthening operational cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the French Armed Forces in response to evolving regional and global security challenges.

    The COAS commended France for its continued collaboration with the Nigerian Army, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, professional military training and support for operational readiness. 

    He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to continuous professional development across all corps and emphasized the importance of sustaining mutually beneficial bilateral defence cooperation with Nigeria allies. 

    The Army Chief expressed optimism that a long-term partnership with France with focus on capacity building, advanced training and enhanced operational effectiveness is in line with contemporary security realities.

    Read Also: Why Tinubu approved Southeast Investment Company – Shettima

    The French Defence Attaché praised the resilience and dedication of the Nigerian Army in dealing with emerging security challenges. 

    Colonel Useo particularly commended the Army’s successful recovery operations in the Republic of Benin and advocated expanded access to strategic professional military courses especially in the area of Public Relations and Aviation. 

    He described the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information as one of the best institutions in Africa, established to train army personnel in civil-military affairs and enhance information and communication management.

    Colonel Useo reiterated France’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation with Nigeria, emphasizing shared responsibility in promoting regional stability, countering emerging threats and building sustainable military capacity. 

    He described the partnership as mutually reinforcing, enhancing the defence capabilities and professional standards of both nations. 

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu in a handshake with the French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Useo, during their engagement at the Army Headquarters in Abuja, on Wednesday. 

  • Zulum cuts short leave to receive foreign envoys, UN delegation in Maiduguri

    Zulum cuts short leave to receive foreign envoys, UN delegation in Maiduguri

    Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Tuesday suspended his annual leave to receive ambassadors from India, Egypt, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, Malaysia and Qatar in Maiduguri.

    The diplomatic delegation was accompanied by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, as well as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bernard Doro.

    The visit provided development partners with an opportunity to evaluate the humanitarian conditions in Borno State, which has faced insurgency-related challenges for more than a decade.

    During the visit, the delegation inspected selected projects executed by the Zulum administration in the areas of education, healthcare and human capital development. The projects were showcased by the Acting Governor of the state, Umar Usman Kadafur.

    Read Also: Zulum okays direct payment of local govt allocations

    Speaking after the tour, Fall praised Zulum’s infrastructure drive, noting that the state was recording meaningful progress despite persistent security concerns.

    “Beyond the headlines around security issues, there are transformative developments taking place in Borno State,” he said.

    Fall highlighted education programmes, girl-child education initiatives, vocational training centres and facilities for the treatment of malnutrition as critical measures designed to tackle the root causes of the crisis.

    He noted that sustained investment in education reflected the state government’s recognition that lasting stability depends on addressing factors fuelling conflict, particularly limited access to quality education.

    Similarly, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bernard Doro, expressed satisfaction with the pace of development in the state despite years of insurgency.

    “I am happy with what I have seen. Considering the crises the state has faced for over 10 years, the level of development is commendable,” Doro said.

    He praised the governor’s leadership, adding that the vocational training centres and comprehensive schools visited were equipped to empower beneficiaries and support poverty reduction efforts.

  • Why Tinubu approved Southeast Investment Company – Shettima

    Why Tinubu approved Southeast Investment Company – Shettima

    …VP launches Vision 2050 blueprint for region, says Ndigbo are central to Nigeria’s future

    Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday unveiled a 25-year development blueprint for the South East, declaring the region a vital pillar of Nigeria’s economic future.

    This is just as Shettima announced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of the South East Investment Company Limited to accelerate the transformation of the region.

    He disclosed this while launching the Southeast Vision 2050 at the Regional Stakeholders’ Forum held in Enugu, describing the initiative as a deliberate shift from short-term governance to structured, long-term regional planning.

    According to him, the newly approved South East Investment Company Limited will mobilise funds from the diaspora, capital markets and development finance institutions, working in synergy with the South East Development Commission (SEDC) to close post-war infrastructure gaps and strengthen regional competitiveness.

    “This forum reflects foresight, responsibility and a shared understanding that the future is not something we wait for, but something we must deliberately design,” the Vice President said.

    He explained that the approval of the investment company was informed by the Southeast’s distinctive entrepreneurial culture, expansive global diaspora and historic engagement with international capital.

    “In recognition of the distinctive character of the Southeast, its entrepreneurial spirit and its global reach, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the establishment of the South East Investment Company Limited,” Shettima stated.

    The Vice President stressed that the SEDC was established to drive structural transformation rather than routine bureaucracy, insisting that Nigeria thrives best when its regions are empowered to prosper.

    “Let me be clear: this is not another layer of bureaucracy. It is a delivery institution focused on tangible outcomes—jobs, productivity and growth,” he said, noting that the region’s historical challenges make intentional planning both urgent and necessary.

    Shettima commended the inclusive composition of the forum, which brought together federal and state governments, traditional rulers, private sector leaders, civil society, youth groups and development partners.

    He also acknowledged the participation of Umu Igbo Unite, a United States-based network of over 10,000 young professionals, emphasising the role of the diaspora in shaping the region’s future.

    “The future of the Southeast will be built both at home and abroad—together,” he said.

    Addressing young people, the Vice President stressed that development must translate into visible improvements in daily life.

    “You are not spectators in our national journey. You are central to it. Development must not remain an abstract promise; it must be felt in the lives of our people,” he added.

    Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, alongside his counterparts, endorsed the Vision 2050 framework, describing it as an opportunity for the Southeast to align with the national development agenda, Vision 2060.

    Mbah applauded the growing unity among leaders and stakeholders in the region and proposed the creation of a Southeast common market, describing the moment as the reawakening of an economic giant.

    He urged a paradigm shift in development planning and project execution, while calling on the people of the region to complement the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to security and inclusive growth.

    Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, pledged his administration’s support for the implementation of the Vision 2050 plan, saying it would help close unemployment and poverty gaps while unlocking the region’s vast economic potential.

    Similarly, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, expressed satisfaction over the unanimous adoption of the vision, describing the forum as a turning point in the economic revolution of the Southeast.

    Governor Otti said with transparent leadership and effective execution, the region’s industrialisation and economic transformation were both realistic and achievable.

    Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, thanked President Tinubu for creating the SEDC, describing it as a long-awaited intervention for the region.

    Read Also: Shettima commissions Tudun Biri resettlement scheme

    He noted that the Vision 2050 conversation was historic, marking the first time leaders across the Southeast had jointly adopted a common framework to guide regional development.

    In a keynote address, the UNDP Resident Representative, Mrs Elsie Attafuah, highlighted global lessons in long-term regional planning, stressing the importance of strong institutions and sustainable execution.

    She emphasised that infrastructure development must support domestic production if genuine industrialisation is to be achieved.

    Minister of Regional Development, Engr Abubakar Momoh, described the forum as a milestone in fostering a united and prosperous Southeast, noting that the creation of the SEDC reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to coordinated regional development.

    Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, pledged her ministry’s support for the Vision 2050 programme and announced a nationwide trade facilitation tour aimed at boosting export potential, describing the Southeast as Nigeria’s industrial springboard.

    In a goodwill message, President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, commended the Federal Government for prioritising regional integration and pledged the support of Ndigbo for the Vision 2050 and the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Speaking on behalf of corporate Nigeria, UBA Group Managing Director, Mr Oliver Alawuba, identified peace as the most critical incentive for investment, noting that funding naturally follows stability.

    He called for sustained infrastructure development—particularly in power and rail—saying the SEDC could play a catalytic role, adding that corporate Nigeria is ready to fund bankable projects through public-private partnerships.

    Chairman of the SEDC, Sir Emeka Wogu, thanked President Tinubu for his commitment to the Southeast, describing Vision 2050 as a unique framework designed to ensure continuity and synergy among the states.

    Managing Director of the SEDC, Mr Mark Okoye, said the commission would partner with state governments, the diaspora and the organised private sector to implement the vision, focusing on infrastructure, power, peace-building and regional connectivity.

    The forum also featured goodwill messages from corporate organisations, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, faith-based bodies, youth groups, diaspora representatives and development partners.

    The Vice President, accompanied by Southeast governors and other dignitaries, later toured an exhibition gallery mounted by the National Council for Arts and Culture.

  • Be vigilant, prepare for seamless 2027 elections, INEC chairman tells Nigerians

    Be vigilant, prepare for seamless 2027 elections, INEC chairman tells Nigerians

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan said on Wednesday that Nigerians should be vigilant and prepare for seamless 2027 general elections.

    Speaking at the first quarterly meeting with media executive, the INEC Chairman warn against misinformation and misinformation in the country down to the general elections.

    He said, “As we navigate this period of intense electoral activity (from the FCT Area Council polls on February 21, 2026 to the upcoming governorship contests in Ekiti and Osun), the Commission remains committed to openness and accountability. 

    “However, let me remind you that the strongest electoral systems can be undermined by misinformation, misinterpretation, deliberate distortion and Foreign Information Manipulation & Interference (FIMI).  We, therefore, urge you to promote accurate reporting at all time. 

    “Our official website and all digital channels are veritable and authoritative points of contact for the media. Officials of the Commission authorised to speak with the media will continue to do their job. 

    Read Also: JUST IN: INEC uncovers deceased persons’ names on voters’ register, plans nationwide verification

    “Let me end by reiterating that elections are no longer just contested only at the polling units, they are contested in the information space. As such, I urge the media to rise up against mis/disinformation so as to protect the sanctity of our electoral process.”

    Prof. Amupitan asked Nigerians to be vigilant and prepare for a seamless elections saying “as we look towards the 2027 General Elections, it is imperative that we remain vigilant and proactive. 

    “We must prepare for a seamless electoral process that embodies the ideals of democracy, justice, and inclusivity. This is a collective responsibility, and each one of you plays a vital role in fostering democracy in Nigeria.”