Latest News
FEATURES
President Bola Tinubu has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately halt the procurement of foreign goods and services that are available locally in a bid to strengthen the naira and stimulate the Nigerian economy.
Tinubu issued the directive on Monday at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the State House in Abuja,
Tinubu, at the FEC meeting, unveiled the “Nigeria First Policy” targeted at promoting local content, building national pride, and reversing the outflow of public funds to foreign markets.
“This policy beckons a new era of local content enterprise, self-belief and national pride,” Tinubu told cabinet members at the meeting.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reform and self-reliance.
According to Tinubu, the nation could no longer afford to enrich foreign supply chains while local industries suffer from underutilisation and neglect.
“We will make what we use and use what we make — not as a slogan, but as a national commitment,” he added.
The president praised recent reforms which he said were beginning to bear fruit, including the removal of fuel subsidies, investments in infrastructure, and improvements to the business climate.
These, he noted, have led to rising reserves, increased oil output, and renewed investor confidence, with multi-billion-dollar commitments from companies such as Shell, Total, ExxonMobil, and Saudi-based SALIC.
He also mentioned the government’s prioritisation of agriculture as a strategic sector for economic growth and poverty alleviation.
Referring to the National Sugar Master Plan II launched in 2024, Tinubu identified the sugar industry as a key example where backward integration is being enforced to reduce dependence on imports.
He urged greater discipline and execution to scale domestic production.
However, Tinubu lamented the lack of full participation by the private sector in harnessing the opportunities created by the administration’s reforms.
He attributed this partly to a system that has historically rewarded dealmaking over real investment. “We must end this,” he said.
“Public funds should not enrich intermediaries who export value instead of creating it.”
To operationalise the new policy, Tinubu instructed the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to immediately revise its guidelines to favour local producers and establish a “Local Content Compliance Framework” for all government procurements.
A register of qualified Nigerian manufacturers and service providers is also to be maintained by the BPP.
Tinubu further ordered that all deployed procurement officers should revert to the BPP as the supervising agency.
Furthermore, no ministry, department or agency will henceforth be allowed to purchase foreign goods or services where local alternatives exist unless a waiver is obtained from the BPP.
Tinubu directed that contracts for goods and services not available locally must include plans for technology transfer, local production, or skill development.
MDAs are also expected to carry out an immediate audit of their procurement plans and align them with the new directives, with breaches attracting penalties, including cancellation of procurements and disciplinary action.
“Let this day mark the beginning of a new era of local enterprise, self-belief, and national pride,” President Tinubu declared.
The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, said data has shown that less than 50 percent of public primary schools in Nigeria have digital technology.
Garba stated this on Monday in Abuja during a media briefing ahead of the 2025 International Conference on Smart Education and Digital Literacy (ICSE 2025), jointly organised by the Commission and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
Garba, who emphasised the need to equip basic schools with the infrastructure necessary for a smart education system, announced plans for a comprehensive deployment of technology to transform basic education delivery across Nigeria.
“Whether a child is in the rural area, semi-urban or urban area, there’s a technology appropriate to be applied to that context that will enable the child to read and write. In addition to what the child can get, for us, a very key activity is the teacher,” Garba added.
According to Garba, the event is aimed at repositioning Nigeria to align with some other African nations in integrating technology into education.
“For example, Rwanda has been using technology in the basic education system for many years. They have reached a level of using AI in their classrooms. For us in Nigeria, we have already started by doing the smart schools, which already many of you are aware of.
“We have about 36 plus one in each of all the states that we have in the country. These smart schools are very advanced technology with content studio teachers that are already skilled in terms of technology, teaching and learning in the classroom,” she said.
KOICA Country Director, Kim Eunsub, emphasised South Korea’s support for Nigeria’s smart education journey through the KOICA Smart School Initiative in collaboration with UBEC.
He noted that the initiative had already facilitated the construction of state-of-the-art smart schools, the training of teachers and administrators, and the sharing of learning resources.
While describing the upcoming conference as a platform to deepen collaboration and build on the progress of the initiative, Kim revealed plans for a second phase of the project to begin in 2026.
Earlier, Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) of UBEC, Rasaq Akinyemi Olajuwon, explained that the conference seeks to expand equitable access to quality basic education through inclusive, technology-driven initiatives; improve teaching and learning by promoting digital pedagogy; and foster innovative curriculum design and 21st-century skills development, among others.
“We are delighted to have 26 distinguished dignitaries, 144 teachers from across Nigeria, and 30 delegates from various African countries joining us,” he said.
The three-day conference, scheduled for May 6–9 in Abuja, has its theme as ‘Empowering African Smart Education Through Emerging Technologies.’
The founder of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has claimed that some major oil marketers and traders are bent on frustrating President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking to State House journalists after a meeting with the president in Abuja on Monday, he lamented that some forces were trying to sabotage Tinubu’s attempts to restructure the country’s economy.
The billionaire had earlier lamented that he is still fighting for the survival of his $20 billion refinery.
Responding to inquiries about his statement on being determined to fight cabals in the oil sector to a standstill, Dangote clarified that his comments were not related to the new leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
He said the new leadership at NNPC has so far been supportive in addressing the company’s needs.
Dangote explained that the cabals he referred to are “some major oil marketers and traders” who were bent on “frustrating the efforts of President Tinubu” in revamping the nation’s economy.
He praised the President for assembling a capable leadership team at NNPC, emphasising the appointments of Bayo Ojulari as group chief executive officer (GCEO) and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman.
The business magnate further noted that he visited the president to commend him for forming such a highly skilled and professionally competent team, which he described as being well-qualified to elevate NNPC to a greater height.
“We are confident that this team will address systemic challenges, align with the President’s vision of a $1 trillion economy, and reposition NNPC Limited for operational excellence and long-term sustainability,” he said.
Dangote also said that the recent activities and structural reforms initiated by NNPC signify a renewed emphasis on transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
“The calibre of individuals at the helm, and their deliberate, reform-driven agenda, demonstrate a commitment to fostering a culture of performance and professionalism,” he added
A face-off has erupted between the Concerned Northern Forum and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over allegations of embezzling over N528bn during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.
The group, led by its chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Sani, at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday, accused Matawalle of mismanaging funds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, Joint Account Allocation Committee, and domestic loans.
But in a swift reaction, Suleiman Shuaibu, who served as Matawalle’s Special Adviser on Bilateral and Multilateral Affairs, dismissed the allegations, describing the group as “faceless.”
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the group’s chairman, Sani, expressed frustration that despite submitting petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission—including those dated May 3, 2024, and September 30, 2024—the commission had yet to act.
“We have gathered facts and figures regarding Bello Matawalle’s alleged embezzlement of billions of naira. These are not mere allegations or speculations. We thought the investigation would reopen after our last visit to the commission’s headquarters, but nothing has happened,” Sani said.
He stated that Matawalle must explain the whereabouts of N290bn from FAAC, N133bn from JAAC, and N105bn in loans accessed during his tenure.
“The money, which was sourced as a loan from an old-generation bank, purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the governor through proxies and contractors who received payment for contracts that were not executed.”
Sani maintained that Matawalle, despite his current federal role, should be held accountable.
“If all these former governors and ministers were not above the law and the EFCC, who would shield the former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle from investigation?” he queried.
He also appealed to prominent Nigerians not to interfere with the commission’s work: “We, the Concerned Northern Forum, find it crucial to convene for a conference to openly call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to proceed with the corruption case initiated by the commission before the 2023 general election.”
The group commended the EFCC’s recent actions against ex-public officials such as Betta Edu and Yahaya Bello, and urged the agency to demonstrate similar commitment in Matawalle’s case “to uphold its credibility and neutrality in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.”
But in an interview with The PUNCH, Matawalle’s ex-special adviser, Shuaibu, defended him, accusing the group of bellyaching over Matawalle’s continued rise politically.
“I know the budget of the state. I know the FAAC allocation and I know how we shared the FAAC allocations. I know what we left in the treasury of Zamfara State — N11bn before handing over,” he said.
Shuaibu said he was part of a transition committee composed of members from both the outgoing and incoming governments to ensure a smooth handover.
“It is even uncalled for, for anybody to come and say that Matawalle embezzled that kind of money,” he said.
He challenged the plausibility of the figures being bandied about.
“Where will he get that kind of money from to squander? How much is the state allocation? It’s N4bn, and if it goes up, we get N5bn and in that N5bn, we paid salaries of workers to the tune of almost 8,670 staff.”
Describing the accusations as politically motivated, he said, “Matawalle has been elevated by God and our opponents don’t like it. They want to see Matawalle down and they will never see Matawalle down because he’s doing the assignment he was given to do and he’s doing it perfectly well.”
A Labour Party chieftain, Patrick Utomi, has said Nigerians are suffering more under the current administration than they were before the last election.
Naija News reports that the Professor of Political Economics, Utomi, said this while reacting to a statement from the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina.
Adesina stated at an event that Nigerians are poorer under the current administration than they were in 1960.
Reacting through his ? handle, Professor Utomi noted that lives have been miserable for most families and children.
“We thank AfDB President. Adesina for reminding us our people lived better in 1960, given today’s GDP per capita. The key question in democracy is, are you better than at the last election? All live for their children to be better off, but our children know more misery than our parents,” he said.
The former presidential candidate condemned the poor management of the nation’s funds while the citizens move into poverty. He stated that Adesina did not demarket Nigeria by putting the data out.
“Still, our politicians walk with a swag and spend public money like drunken sailors while poverty degrades the land and a slow-flow civil war, called all kinds of names like banditry, dehumanizes the people. Between 1960 and now was an oil boom. And they call truth demarketing,” he stated.
He added that the inability of politicians to think about development was responsible for ethnic politicking.
“The failure to think development and have a plan to move people out of misery has driven the politics of the unthinking politicians to centralize identity politics and elite bargains that place progress in the back burner and spread hate as a motif force of their survival,” he added.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas on Monday said Nigeria is playing a leading role in the race to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a $1bn financing initiative for the Rural Electrification Agency in December 2024.
The Speaker stated this while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the First Legislative Conference and Expo on Renewable Energy organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy, chaired by Anambra lawmaker, Afam Ogene, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in Lagos.
“On the continental stage, Nigeria has assumed a leadership role. Through our participation in the Mission 300 Initiative with the World Bank and the African Development Bank, we are working to provide electricity to three hundred million Africans by 2030.
“While progress has been made, the road ahead requires sustained effort. The success of this transition depends on coherent actions across all institutions. Legislators must establish sound legal foundations. The executive must implement it with integrity and urgency. The private sector must invest in innovation and scale. Civil society must foster awareness, inclusion, and accountability. This conference, therefore, provides an opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment.
“Our legislative agenda recognises energy reform as central to our national priorities. Strategic Objective 8.5 aims to promote renewable energy development while ensuring access, efficiency, and environmental responsibility,” he said.
Among recent legislative interventions, he cited the House’s passage of new tax reform bills that eliminate Value Added Tax on renewable energy components and Compressed Natural Gas technologies. These reforms, he said, are designed to stimulate private investment and enhance affordability in the clean energy sector.
The Speaker hinted that the House is working to provide legal backing foar Nigeria’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy of 2015, “A framework that seeks to boost renewable energy adoption, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and improve energy efficiency nationwide.”
Speaker Abbas noted that the urgency to transition to clean energy is no longer optional, citing global energy trends that show a decisive shift toward renewables. He argued that in 2024, renewable energy accounted for over 92 per cent of new global power generation capacity, driven primarily by solar and wind, bringing the world’s total installed capacity to over 4,448 gigawatts, a 15 per cent year-on-year increase.
He also referenced international investment figures from 2023, where $1.7tn of the $2.8tn total global energy investment was directed toward renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electric mobility.
“This is a structural reorientation of the global energy economy,” Abbas said. “Nigeria must align with this reality to stay relevant, competitive, and environmentally responsible.”
He said that of the $1bn approved by President Tinubu, $750m is earmarked for expanding solar access in underserved areas, resulting in the deployment of 124 mini-grids and over 25,000 solar home systems, benefiting more than 200,000 Nigerians.
“Such bold investments are game-changers,” the Speaker said. “They show what is possible when policy, financing, and legislation align.”
The Speaker reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to its Energy Transition Plan, which lays out a path to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. This is just as he welcomed the launch of the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Policy in March 2025, aimed at unlocking climate finance and enhancing project viability.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Renewable Energy, Afam Ogene, called for urgent action.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s continued reliance on fossil fuels, despite its vast reserves, has failed to provide reliable electricity, stifling economic growth and productivity.
“The persistent power supply challenges we face are not just a technical issue, they are a barrier to our national development. To move forward, we must embrace renewable energy as a critical component of our energy strategy,” he said.
“The transition to renewable energy is not just about power generation; it’s about creating economic opportunities, especially for our youth. Every solar panel and clean energy initiative represents potential jobs and skills development,” Ogene added.
Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, said the Conference was not just a testimony to the increasing urgency to address energy challenges, but also a call to policymakers, legislators, investors, community and innovators to take action towards shaping a sustainable energy future.
A 22-year-old lady, Joy Tale, has been reportedly killed by her landlord’s son, Odunayo Olomolatan, 41, in Ode-Irele, Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State.
NAN reports that the tenant was hacked to death on Monday during an argument.
DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the spokesman for the Police Command in Ondo State, confirmed the incident to NAN.
Ayanlade said that the suspect has been arrested and in the custody of the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ode-Irele.
According to the police spokesman, an investigation has begun to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the lady.
“Yes, I can confirm to you that the lady was allegedly hacked to death during an argument between her and her landlord son.
“The suspect has been arrested and investigation is ongoing to unravel circumstances surround the lady’s death,” Ayanlade said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the local government, Olajide Akinfe, has urged residents not to take laws into their hands over the incident.
Peter Obi Faults Nigeria’s Education System As Over 1.5 Million Candidates ‘Fails’ 2025 UTME
AFOLABI
Former Governor of Anambra State and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has voiced significant concern regarding the recently published results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), characterising the outcomes as a disheartening indication of Nigeria’s deteriorating education system.
Naija News reports that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) officially released a comprehensive statistical report of the 2025 UTME results on Monday, revealing that more than 1.5 million candidates scored below the 200-mark threshold widely used by Nigerian universities for admission consideration.
According to the breakdown of the 1,955,069 results processed and released on Monday, only 420,415 candidates scored above 200.
Even more striking, only 12,414 candidates—or just 0.63%—achieved a score of 300 and above, placing them in the high-performance bracket.
Out of this top-tier group, just 4,756 candidates scored 320 and above, while another 7,658 candidates earned scores between 300 and 319.
The statement from JAMB also highlighted the performance of underage candidates permitted to take the exam under special consideration.
“40,247 underage candidates were permitted to demonstrate their exceptional abilities.
“However, only 467 of these candidates (1.16%) achieved scores that meet the threshold for exceptional ability as defined for the UTME, with their performance in the subsequent three stages still pending,” JAMB noted.
Reacting, via a statement posted on his official ? page, Peter Obi condemned the situation, attributing it to ‘the repercussions of years of insufficient investment in education.’
The politician underscored that the unsatisfactory results reveal profound structural issues within Nigeria’s educational framework.
He said: “The latest JAMB results once again highlight the consequences of decades of underinvestment in education, a sector that should be central to our national development strategy.”
In comparing Nigeria to other nations, Obi highlighted that the country’s total university enrollment is around 2 million students, a number significantly lower than that of other developing countries.
He emphasised that the National University of Bangladesh alone boasts over 3.4 million students, despite Bangladesh having only about 75% of Nigeria’s population.
Furthermore, he noted that Bangladesh, which previously trailed Nigeria in nearly all development metrics, now excels in all major development areas and in the Human Development Index (HDI).
Obi also mentioned Turkey, which has a population of approximately 87.7 million and currently has over 7 million university students, more than three times Nigeria’s total enrollment.
He reiterated his long-held belief that education should not merely be regarded as a social service, but rather as a vital strategic investment.
“Education is the most critical driver of national development and the most powerful tool for lifting people out of poverty.
“We must now invest aggressively in education at all levels if we are serious about building a prosperous, secure, and equitable Nigeria,” he stated.
Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has accepted additional evidence against the former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika.
Naija News reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is pursuing legal action against Sirika, his daughter Fatima Sirika, son-in-law Jalal Sule Hamma, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited on an amended six-count charge related to abuse of office amounting to ₦2.7 billion.
According to a statement from EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, during the proceedings on Monday, May 5, 2025, prosecution counsel A.O. Atolagbe introduced the Ninth Prosecution Witness, PW9. During his testimony, the witness, who is a retired General Manager of Administration and Human Resources at the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), revealed that he had received a letter from the EFCC concerning the investigation of the third defendant, Hamma, in his role as GM of Administration and Human Resources, requesting that the NNRA provide information regarding Hamma.
In his response, he indicated that he had sent a letter to the Commission confirming that Hamma was employed by the Authority in November 2021 but had resigned after two years before his confirmation.
He also mentioned that a few months later, the Authority received another letter from the midstream and downstream oil sector, requesting information about Hamma, to which he also responded.
The information regarding Hamma that he submitted to the Commission comprised his appointment letter, a request for withdrawal of service, approval for the withdrawal, confirmation that Hamma paid one month in lieu of notice for disengagement, and a list of the Authority’s properties in his possession, which he subsequently returned.
He further clarified that these documents were printed on the letterhead of the NNRA and were signed by him. Atolagbe’s request to present these documents as evidence was opposed by Hamma’s attorney, Sanusi Musa, SAN, as well as the attorney for the fourth defendant, M.J. Numa, SAN.
Musa contended that the witness did not indicate receiving a letter from the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), but rather from the midstream and downstream sector, asserting that no foundation was established for that document during his testimony. Citing Section 104 of the Evidence Act, Musa argued that the documents were irrelevant to the trial, and noted that, aside from the first two pages, the remaining pages were not certified true copies, and that the prosecution had not made any payments for certified true copies. Numa, SAN, concurred with this perspective.
In his reply, Atolagbe noted that where a document has attachments, such documents must be admitted with the attachments and that even when the attachments have been omitted, the court has the power to demand that such documents be made available and to be admitted.
He referenced Textile Applied Products Ltd vs H Stephens Ltd. He also argued that the witness mentioned ‘upstream’ in his evidence-in-chief, noting that his adding ‘midstream’ did not invalidate the fact that he received such a letter.
“He does not work there; moreover, the witness also identified the documents,” he said.
After reviewing the submission, Justice Oriji determined that the documents should be accepted as evidence, stating that ‘the witness’s examination and identification of the documents addresses the objections raised.’
Regarding the payment for certified true copies, the judge ruled that the documents cannot be dismissed solely on that ground and mandated the payment of fees for the certified true copies.
The case has been postponed until May 6, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.
The Kano State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 20-year-old man in connection with an armed robbery and homicide that occurred in Danbare Quarters, Kano, on Monday, May 5, 2025.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the police received a distress call at about 6:40 am from a resident in the area, reporting that two suspected armed robbers had invaded the home of one Shehu Muhammad, aged 30, and attacked him with a sharp cutlass, inflicting multiple injuries.
Responding swiftly to the call, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, PhD, dispatched operational teams and detectives to the scene.
The victim was immediately rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital for treatment but was later pronounced dead by a medical doctor.
One of the suspects, identified as Aliyu Umar, was arrested at the scene of the crime. The police recovered the weapon allegedly used in the attack from him.
The suspect is currently in custody and assisting with the ongoing investigation. Police say he will be charged in court upon the investigation’s completion.
“We will not rest until every criminal element is brought to justice,” CP Bakori said in the statement. “This arrest is a strong signal to others who think they can terrorize innocent citizens.”
SP Kiyawa also praised the public for their quick action, stating, “The community’s timely report was critical in apprehending the suspect. We urge residents to continue working with us to ensure a safer Kano.”
The police command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property and urged residents to report any suspicious activity.
More...
A federal appeals court on Monday declined a request by United States President Donald Trump’s administration to permit it to revoke the temporary legal status of hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Haitians and Cubans living in the country.
The Boston-based 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals refused to put on hold a judge’s order stopping the Department of Homeland Security’s move to cut short a 2-year “parole” given to the migrants under former president, Joe Biden’s administration.
The action of the last administration, marked an expansion of the Trump’s hardline crackdown on United States’ immigration and push to increase the level of deportations.
The administration argued that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had discretion to categorically end the migrants’ status and that the judge’s order was forcing the US government to “retain hundreds of thousands of aliens in the country against its will.”
However, a three-judge panel comprised entirely of appointees of Democratic presidents said Noem “has not at this point made a ‘strong showing’ that her categorical termination of plaintiffs’ parole is likely to be sustained on appeal.”
Karen Tumlin, a lawyer whose immigrant rights group Justice Action Center pursued the case, welcomed the court’s decision.
She called the administration’s actions “reckless and illegal.”
“The Trump administration is committed to restoring the rule of law to our immigration system,” Tricia McLaughlin, the Homeland Security Department spokesperson, said in a statement.
“No lawsuit, not this one or any other, is going to stop us from doing that.”
A lawsuit by immigrant rights advocates representing migrants challenged the agency decision to pause various Biden-era programs that have allowed Ukrainian, Afghan, Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan migrants to enter the country.
The Homeland Security Department had on March 25 announced in a Federal Register notice that it had decided to terminate the two-year parole granted to about 400,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelan migrants while the case was pending.
US District Judge Indira Talwani, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, on April 25 halted the agency’s action, which she said revoked previously granted parole and work authorisations for migrants on a categorical basis and without a necessary case-by-case review.
The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ordered the demolition of 24 two-storey buildings illegally constructed on a waterway in Guzape District, Abuja.
AMMC Coordinator, Felix Obuah, issued the directive during an inspection tour of various parts of Abuja on Monday, alongside other council officials.
Obuah stated that the affected buildings were developed by Cityscape Estate on Plot 4851 without necessary approvals.
He described the construction as a flagrant violation of planning regulations and vowed that the structures would be removed to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We have mobilised equipment, materials, and machines on-site. These illegal buildings erected without approval will go down,” Obuah said.
“Any other building without proper approval, especially those constructed on waterways or road corridors, will be demolished. It is no longer business as usual; we are committed to restoring Abuja to its original master plan.”
He warned that AMMC officers found complicit in the approval or oversight of the illegal structures would face disciplinary action, stressing that the council would no longer tolerate negligence or sabotage.
“They are receiving salaries and are expected to do their jobs. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is working tirelessly to change the narrative, and we will not allow any disgruntled elements to sabotage those efforts,” Obuah said.
Though the demolition of one structure was carried out on-site, the council granted a two-week grace period, at the developer’s request—for the voluntary removal of all contraventions.
“Failure to comply will result in full-scale demolition,” Obuah warned.
Director of Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, explained that the developer had originally been allocated a plot near the Federal Housing Authority Estate in the area.
However, after part of the land was affected by the proposed S20 road project, additional land was allocated as compensation.
“That compensation does not give the developer the right to build without obtaining proper approval,” Galadima noted.
He said the infractions were discovered two weeks ago during a routine inspection.
“A committee was subsequently set up to investigate the situation, which revealed that construction was ongoing in a valley area—an unacceptable practice under FCTA regulations.
“Our preliminary findings show that the number of buildings on site exceeds the approved number.
“This is a complete violation of the terms of approval,” Galadima added.
Chairman of the FCT Building Contravention Taskforce, Mr Gabriel Musa, revealed that while only 18 buildings were approved, the developer constructed 42, more than double the permitted number.
In response, the developer, Mr Kadiri Obaidi, admitted the infractions and accepted responsibility, attributing some of the unauthorised development to subscribers.
“We have approval for the estate, but many infractions occurred—mostly by our subscribers, for whom we are responsible,” he said.
“We acknowledge the violations and are willing to pull down the illegal structures ourselves within two weeks to salvage some of the materials.”
The council granted his request on the condition that all unauthorised structures are removed at no cost to the government.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have apprehended 35 individuals suspected of engaging in internet fraud in Auchi, Edo State.
The arrests took place in multiple locations across the town, specifically in Vigilante Street, off Sabo Ibenafo Road, and the Back of Yak areas.
According to a statement posted on the verified Twitter handle of the EFCC on Tuesday, the operation was driven by “credible intelligence that linked [the suspects] to fraudulent internet activities.”
The agency emphasised its commitment to combating cybercrime, stating, “We remain resolute in our mandate to rid Nigeria of economic and financial crimes.”
The EFCC recovered several items from the suspects at the time of their arrest, including nine cars, eleven laptop computers, 46 mobile phones, and two smart watches. These items are believed to have been used in the perpetration of the alleged fraudulent activities.
The suspects are currently in custody and undergoing investigation. The EFCC has confirmed that they will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the probe.
This operation marks another milestone in the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to curb the rising tide of internet fraud, popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo,” in Nigeria.
Auchi, a major town in Edo State, has been identified as a hotspot for such activities, prompting increased surveillance and enforcement actions by the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC continues to urge members of the public to report suspicious activities and provide credible information to aid in the fight against economic and financial crimes.
President, Republic of Gabon, His Excellency Brice Oligui Nguema and Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Tony Elumelu, during the conferment of the Gabonese Highest National Honour, Commander in the National Order of Gabonese Merit’ on Mr Elumelu for his contributions to the Gabonese and African economies, by President Nguema in Libreville on Monday
The President of the Republic of Gabon, His Excellency, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, has conferred the nation’s honours – the Commander in the National Order of Gabonese Merit – on the Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu.
The distinguished award recognises Elumelu’s enduring contribution to Africa’s economic development, particularly his impact on youth entrepreneurship and infrastructure growth in Gabon and across the continent.
Speaking at the presidential palace while presenting the recognition in Libreville on Monday, Nguema, who was on Saturday sworn in as the newly elected President of the oil-rich country, praised Elumelu’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in Africa, adding that ‘Tony Elumelu is not only a visionary entrepreneur but also a committed friend of our nation Gabon. Through his Foundation and the UBA Group, he has consistently shown that investing in Africa is not just good business – it is the key to our shared future. Today, we honour a man whose actions continue to empower young Africans and inspire nations.”
While acknowledging the recognition, Elumelu, who has made several high-level visits to Gabon in recent months, expressed deep gratitude for the recognition and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the country’s development agenda:
“I am truly humbled by this honour. It is a reflection not just of my personal journey, but of a shared belief – that African-led solutions, African entrepreneurs, and African institutions will shape the future of this continent. Gabon holds enormous potential, and I am proud that the Tony Elumelu Foundation and UBA Group can play a role in unlocking it,” Elumelu said.
“This is more than a medal – it is a reminder of what we can achieve together as Africans,” Elumelu stated adding that, “At UBA and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we remain committed to building bridges, not just between nations, but between ambition and opportunity.”
The recognition comes at a crucial time for Gabon, as the country accelerates its economic recovery and prioritises inclusive growth under the new leadership.
Elumelu’s engagement focuses on two key pillars of Infrastructure financing which is essential for long-term economic transformation and Youth entrepreneurship, championed through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which offers training, mentorship, and $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital to young Gabonese and African entrepreneurs each year.
The award also highlights the strengthening of financial partnership between Gabon and the UBA, which has a strong presence across the continent and is a key driver of financial inclusion and development.
Elumelu is the Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, his family owned investment company committed to improving lives and transforming Africa, through long-term investments in strategic sectors of the African economy, including financial services, hospitality, power, energy, technology and healthcare.
He is the Chairman of pan-African financial services group, the United Bank for Africa (UBA), which operates in 20 countries across Africa, the United Kingdom, France, the UAE and is the only African bank with a commercial deposit taking presence in the United States. UBA provides corporate, commercial, SME and consumer banking services to more than 35 million customers globally. He also chairs Nigeria’s largest quoted conglomerate, Transcorp whose subsidiaries include Transcorp Power, one of the leading producers of electricity in Nigeria and Transcorp Hotels Plc, Nigeria’s foremost hospitality brand.
Tony is the most prominent champion of entrepreneurship in Africa. In 2010, he created The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy, empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, catalysing economic growth, driving poverty eradication and driving job creation across all 54 African countries. Since inception, the Foundation’s flagship programme has identified and catalysed 18,500 entrepreneurs and created a digital ecosystem of over one million Africans, as part of a ten-year US$100m commitment to fund, mentor and train young Africans.
Tony’s businesses and the Foundation are inspired by his economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent.
In 2020, in recognition of his business leadership and economic empowerment of young African entrepreneurs, Tony was named in the TIME100 Most Influential People in the World, and recognised with Belgium’s oldest royal order.