The Federal Government has disclosed plans to construct 100 housing units in each of the 774 local government areas of the country, amounting to a total of 77,400 units.

Naija News reports that the construction is expected to be completed within one year from the launch date.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, made this known while receiving a delegation from Creative Sphere Limited at the Ministry’s headquarters, in Mabushi, on Wednesday.

The Minister said the project aligned with President Bola Tinubu‘s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian has access to decent housing.

Dangiwa explained that the programme would be funded through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF).

“Each estate will be equipped with auxiliary facilities such as recreational areas, a primary school, a police outpost, a clinic, and a shopping mall,” he said.

Regarding the allocation of the houses, the Minister explained that 80% of the houses would be sold to Nigerians living in the local government areas who earn a living wage, adding that interested individuals would be required to contribute one-third of their monthly income.

“Anyone earning as low as N30,000 per month will be able to purchase a house, as they will only need to pay N10,000 monthly, which is one-third of their earnings. Similarly, someone earning N90,000 will pay N30,000,” he explained.

He further revealed that the remaining 20% of the housing units would be allocated free of charge to citizens with low or no income, such as widows, orphans, and others identified as vulnerable in society.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume had allayed fears that President Bola Tinubu’s appointments are lopsided.

Akume made an assurance to Nigerians following allegations by Senator Ali Ndume that the president has been favouring people from his region while making appointments.

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However, refuting the claim, the SGF said Tinubu is committed to adhering to the principles of the Federal Character.

In statement issued by Segun Imohiosen, the Director, Information and Public Relations for the Office of the SGF, Akume said such insinuations should be disregarded.

The statement said the current administration of President Tinubu is unwavering in its commitment to the principles of fairness, equity, and national unity.

“All appointments are made in strict adherence to federal character principle, as enshrined in Section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Altered).

“It is notable to mention that, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, believes strongly in the unity of Nigeria and is guided by the ideals of fairness and tenets of justice in all appointments. This Administration is dedicated to ensuring that all regions and demographics of the country are adequately represented in its institutions and agencies,” Imohiosen said.

He said the present government remains steadfast in its pursuit of a prosperous, united and equitable Nigeria, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of this Administration.

“Pokers of embers of hate and disunity who carry tendentious and unfounded allegations should never be taken seriously by Nigerians.

Inquiries with respect to this matter can be channelled through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation which is the official custodian of such appointments,” he added.

The senator representing Borno South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the growing concerns regarding the alleged lopsided appointments in his administration.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme on Friday, Ndume accused the President of violating the Federal Character principle, a key provision of the Nigerian Constitution that mandates equal representation in public offices.

According to Ndume, several key positions in Tinubu’s administration have been concentrated in favour of a specific region, leaving other parts of the country underrepresented.

This, he warned, could further fuel political discontent and deepen existing divisions within the country.

Ndume pointed out, “Seventy-two appointees of Tinubu are Yorubas, I’m not talking about North or South. “Section 14(3) of the Constitution is clear—it says that appointments into political positions should be spread in such a way that no tribe is left out. The Constitution says that everybody should have a sense of belonging.”

Naija News reports he expressed his concern, suggesting that President Tinubu might not be fully aware of the imbalance in his appointments, which he described as unintentional.

However, he emphasized that the current situation could be corrected, urging the administration to view his comments as a “wake-up call.”

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Ndume also referenced his past criticisms of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments, especially the lopsided selection of service chiefs.

He shared how he confronted Buhari on the issue, and the former President explained his choices. Ndume hopes that President Tinubu will take action to rectify the current imbalance.

“I criticised Buhari on his lopsided appointment of service chiefs, I even confronted him on that and he gave me the reasons,” Ndume stated.

The APC Senator also expressed concern over the rising political opposition against the President. He warned that the dissatisfaction within the ruling party, particularly among APC members, is growing.

“Every vote matters,” Ndume said, stressing that some members of the APC feel neglected and abandoned.

Referring to Governor El-Rufai’s earlier remarks, Ndume explained that many party members are upset because they feel they have no access to the President.

Instead of addressing these grievances, Ndume noted that the Presidency has opted to criticize these individuals in the media, which he deemed “very dangerous.”

Ndume concluded by urging the President and the APC leadership to pay attention to the simmering discontent within the party, as this could have serious implications for the future of the administration.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and his co-defendants must open their defence in the ongoing drug trafficking case filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The ruling, delivered on Friday, April 11, followed a series of no-case submissions filed by the defendants, which the court dismissed. Justice Nwite held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the embattled officer and his co-accused.

Kyari, a former Head of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), was arrested on February 14, 2022, after the NDLEA declared him wanted over alleged involvement with an international drug cartel.

He is standing trial alongside four other police officers—ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba, and Inspector John Nuhu—on charges of conspiracy to deal in 17.55kg of cocaine, unlawful dealing, and tampering with evidence.

The defendants were arraigned on March 7, 2022, alongside two suspected drug traffickers, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who were apprehended at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu. While Kyari and the four officers pleaded not guilty, Umeibe and Ezenwanne pleaded guilty and were subsequently convicted.

Following the closure of the NDLEA’s case, the defence team filed a no-case submission, arguing that the evidence presented was insufficient for conviction. However, in five separate rulings, Justice Nwite disagreed.

“Assuming without conceding that the defendants were charged with a quantity of cocaine either less or more than 17.55kg, it does not negate the fact that prima facie evidence exists showing the 1st defendant dealt with or tampered with cocaine,” the judge stated in his ruling on Kyari’s application.

The court has adjourned the matter to May 21, 2025, for the defendants to open their defence.

Senator Ali Ndume, representing the Borno South Senatorial District, has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the nation’s security and economy sectors.

In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Daily on Friday, Ndume urged the President to focus solely on these critical areas, stating, “Let the President forget about everything and concentrate on three things – security, welfare of citizens, and economy.”

He emphasized that Tinubu’s attention should be on these priorities as a matter of urgency. “His attention should go there as number 1, then he should create a state of emergency in those areas.”

While a strong advocate for democratic principles, Ndume expressed surprise over the President’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.

He criticized the move, which followed a prolonged political crisis in the oil-rich state, and called it a misstep.

On March 18, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months. He appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as administrator to oversee the state’s affairs during this period. The President invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows the declaration of a state of emergency in cases of national danger or disaster.

However, Ndume questioned the necessity of such a proclamation, suggesting that the President should have instead gathered the key political figures involved and worked towards resolving the dispute.

“I feel that the President would have worked seriously on bringing them (and) solving the problem than declaring a state of emergency,” he said.

He also rejected claims that the political actors had ignored the President’s previous directives before the emergency rule was imposed.

“How can you ignore the President? When he removed them now, did they ignore the removal?” Ndume queried.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights activist, Femi Falana has slammed the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio for petitioning the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun over the assassination allegation made against him by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Falana said in seeking redress, the Senate President should not have petitioned the IGP on the matter if he believes the Kogi Central lawmaker defamed his character.

Describing the matter as politically-motivated, Falana said since Akpabio in his petition alleged character defamation and claimed that the allegation of assassination plot is false, he (the Senate President) should desist from using the Police to criminalise a civil dispute.

“In the said petition, Senator Akpabio, stated that the alleged defamatory statement is ‘entirely false, unfounded and politically motivated’. To that extent, the Nigeria Police Force should not be asked to criminalise a civil dispute that is ‘politically motivated,’” the senior lawyer said.

Citing a couple of cases, Falana said the Court of Appeal had cautioned public officers against using state’s machinery to harass or intimidate their political opponents.

He also said that the court also urged public office holders to ensure they do not diminish from the freedom gained from colonial masters by resorting to laws enacted by them to suit their purpose.

Further noting that public officers must be tolerant of criticism and where a writer overshoots his or her boundary, Falana said there should be a resort to the law of libel rather than intimidation.

He added, “In view of the above epochal words of the Court of Appeal, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio should be advised to institute a libel suit in the appropriate High Court if he feels defamed by the statement credited to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at a political rally.”

The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday, April 10, gifted the best-graduating student of the Lagos State University (LASU) a whooping sum of N10 million.

Ojo Nwosu Isioma who received the funds from the Lagos State governor bagged a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93.

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A graduate of Biochemistry, Nwosu finished from the university with a first-class degree.

Speaking during the convocation ceremony of the institution, the governor represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat said the state government is committed to ensuring the provision of quality education for the younger ones.

He also stated that Nwosu’s success has made the Lagos State government, LASU, and the entire university community proud.

He assured that Lagos State is working closely with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to ensure that students get all the financial assistance they need to excel in their academics.Nigerian cultural tours

“Education is the backbone of our society, and we must recognise its importance in addressing societal needs and human development.

“As leaders, we must ensure our educational system remains relevant and effective in providing innovative solutions to real-life problems,” the governor said.

The Ebonyi State High Court on Thursday ordered the release of 12 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who had been in custody since May 24, 2021.

Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, IPOB lawyer, who made this known in a statement issued after the court ruling said that the freed individuals are part of a larger group of 36 IPOB supporters who were arrested nearly four years ago.

Ejiofor noted that despite multiple court rulings over the years discharging and acquitting them of all charges, they had remained in detention until Thursday’s ruling.
The ruling followed a formal application by the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

He said that the DPP acknowledged the series of judicial pronouncements and formally withdrew the latest charges against the 12 detainees, effectively ending their years-long incarceration.

According to him, the court directive was carried out without delay, and the individuals were handed over in compliance with the ruling.

“It marked a long-overdue respect for the rule of law and a reaffirmation of their innocence, which courts had upheld time and again,” Ejiofor said.

Ejiofor emphasised that the legal team remains committed to the release of the remaining IPOB members, who, according to him, have also been acquitted by no fewer than four separate High Courts in Ebonyi State.

“Their release is no longer a matter of if but when, and that moment draws closer by the day,” he said.

A leading Islamic cleric and National Chairman of the Council of Ulama, Ibrahim Jalingo, has stirred intense controversy after publicly endorsing the death penalty for individuals who renounce Islam, claiming it is supported by the Qur’an.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Jalingo defended a Hadith that prescribes death for apostates, dismissing critics who challenge its validity as suffering from “compound ignorance.”

He accused those questioning the Hadith of lacking proper religious understanding.

“The Qur’an is a revelation from Allah, and so is the Hadith,” Jalingo wrote.

“Often, the Qur’an addresses matters briefly, while the Hadith comes to elaborate. This Hadith does not contradict the Qur’an—it reinforces it.”

Citing verses from the Qur’an—Surah At-Tawbah (9:5), Surah Al-Baqarah (2:193), and Surah An-Nisa’ (4:89 and 4:91)—Jalingo argued that Islamic scripture calls for severe consequences for apostasy and polytheism, including death in certain contexts.

He also claimed that the oft-quoted verse promoting religious freedom, “There is no compulsion in religion” (Qur’an 2:256), had been abrogated by later revelations.

In a particularly inflammatory remark, Jalingo launched a personal attack on his critics, likening them to “prostitutes and effeminate men,” while praising his supporters for upholding “true” Islamic principles.

His comments have since gone viral, drawing both applause from hardline followers and widespread condemnation from other Muslim scholars, civil society actors, and human rights advocates

The South-East Elders Alliance for Tinubu 2027 has called on Nigerians to support the second-term ambition of President Bola Tinubu.

The Enugu North Senatorial District chapter of the group called for support for the president’s re-election after a meeting on Wednesday.

In a communique jointly signed by its leaders including its National Coordinator, South East, Humphrey Nsofor and the Deputy National Coordinator, Damian Opata, the group said President Tinubu has done well for the region.

According to the group, the region has immensely benefitted from the president’s administration, especially with key appointments handed to their sons.

Listing some of the juicy positions handed to some individuals from the Southeast region, the group pleaded with Mr. President to originate and forward to the National Assembly, the bill amending the constitutional provisions to create more states in Nigeria.

“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Professor Iliyasu Usman was the first Igbo Imam of the Central Mosque, Abuja. Professor Usman is of Nsukka Igbo extraction.”

“The appointment of Dr Mrs Amaka Onu as Board Member, Federal Polytechnic, Jigawa State,” the communique said.

The group further urged President Tinubu to put in more efforts into improving the security situation across the country.

“In this regard, we suggest that the President should seriously consider the idea of setting up a Digital Response Arm / Unit within the Nigerian security system.

“Finally, we plead with all Nigerians to support President Tinubu for a second term, come 2027. This would enable him to complete the Southern mandate of eight years. We believe that this would reduce acrimony in the choice of presidential candidates for the 2027 presidential elections,” it added.