NEWS
Tinubu Sets 14-Month Deadline For Completion Of Abuja-Kano Expressway
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the completion of the Abuja-Kano Expressway within 14 months, underscoring his administration’s commitment to fast-tracking critical infrastructure projects.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during an inspection of the project site in Tafa, Niger State.
Idris, accompanied by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, and members of the National Assembly, highlighted the President’s determination to ensure the project’s timely delivery.
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In a statement issued Friday by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris disclosed that sections of the original contract handled by Julius Berger PLC were revoked and reassigned to a new contractor due to delays.
He emphasized that the revised timeline reflects the President’s resolve to deliver the project on schedule.
“Mr. President is determined to see the completion of this project within the revised timeline. We will not allow any contractor to hold us to ransom.
“The target of 14 months is achievable, and we believe it will be completed on time,” Idris stated, urging stakeholders to prioritize the project as a matter of national importance.
The President’s decision follows his rejection of a proposed three-year completion timeline by Julius Berger, which included an increased budget from ₦797 billion to ₦1.5 trillion.
“The Honourable Minister of Works has set a 14-month target, and with the enthusiasm and determination of everyone involved, we believe this goal is achievable.
This road is essential for linking the Federal Capital Territory to Kano and other states. President Tinubu is resolute that this project will be completed, and nothing will stop it,” Idris added.
Enhanced Features and New Developments
Minister Umahi revealed enhancements to the project, including a 10.6-kilometre extension to the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, a 5-kilometre extension towards Kogi State, and solar lighting along the entire stretch.
“I am happy to announce that we received a ‘No Objection’ from the Bureau of Public Procurement for a total contract sum of ₦252.89 billion. I am confident the Federal Executive Council will approve this in its next sitting,” Umahi said.
The expressway, segmented into three sections for efficiency, is a key corridor connecting Nigeria’s capital to Kano and surrounding regions.
Once completed, the project will facilitate economic growth, enhance connectivity, and prepare the road for an operation and maintenance concession.
The United States Supreme Court has upheld a contentious law that could see TikTok banned from U.S. app stores as early as this Sunday.
The decision hinges on TikTok’s ownership by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and has sparked significant debate regarding national security, data privacy, and the broader implications for social media platforms within the country.
The announcement was confirmed by DiscussingFilm, which reported, “The Supreme Court will uphold the TikTok ban. The app will likely be banned in the U.S. on Sunday.”
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This development follows ongoing concerns from U.S. lawmakers over the potential risks posed by TikTok’s ties to China, including fears about data harvesting and its alleged influence on American users. For months, the Biden administration and members of Congress have pressured ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations to alleviate these concerns. However, no deal has been reached thus far.
The Supreme Court’s ruling has led to widespread discussions about the future of TikTok and other foreign-owned platforms in the United States. Some critics argue that the ban could set a dangerous precedent for limiting free expression, while others see it as a necessary step to protect national security.
As the deadline approaches, TikTok users and influencers in the U.S. are left scrambling to understand the implications of the ban and explore alternative platforms. Unless ByteDance complies with the government’s demand to sell the app, TikTok may disappear from U.S. app stores in the coming days.
Power supply has been disrupted in several areas of Abuja, including parts of the Presidential Villa, Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Life Camp, Asokoro, Utako, and Mabushi, following an incident of cable vandalism.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) disclosed that vandals targeted a 132kV transmission line, stealing underground cables and a 40-meter stretch of 1x500mm XLPE conductor.
The affected cables supply bulk electricity to the Central Area transmission substation in Katampe.
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“Consequently, areas experiencing power outage include Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Life Camp, Asokoro, Utako, Mabushi, and parts of Presidential Villa,” TCN General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said in a statement on Friday.
Mbah confirmed that the incident has impacted eight distribution feeders, disrupting over 60 percent of the power supply to Abuja.
She further noted, “The vandalism of this critical infrastructure is suspected to have occurred near the Menillum Park axis of Abuja.”
In response to the disruption, the TCN has deployed engineers to repair the damaged cables. “We appeal to residents in the affected areas to remain patient while efforts to repair the damaged cables are underway,” Mbah added.
She also expressed concern about the recurring issue of cable vandalism, which continues to hinder power delivery nationwide.
Mbah called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and to help protect power infrastructure from further acts of vandalism.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) also issued a notice confirming the outage and its impact on customers.
“Dear Valued Customers, this is to inform residents around Federal Secretariat, Wuse Zone 1-7, Central Mosque, Energy Commission, Transcorp Hotel, Eagle Square, Yar’adua Centre, the entire Central Area, TCN HQ, CAC HQ, NYSC HQ, INEC, the entire Maitama, Kado Estate, parts of Jabi District, Area 7, 8 & 10 Garki, and its environs that the power outage being experienced is due to a fault on the 132kV lines 1&2 from Katampe to AT5 Central Area Transmission Station,” the notice read.
Efforts to repair the damaged cables are ongoing, with authorities working to restore power to the affected areas as quickly as possible.
The Appeal Court has affirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
The confirmation was announced through a post on the Labour Party’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
It read: “Barr Julius Abure remains the LP National Chairman, Appeal Court Rules.”
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Further verification was provided by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, who confirmed the development in a phone call.
This ruling follows a previous judgement by a Federal High Court, which had also recognised Abure as the rightful leader of the Labour Party.
The latest decision by the Appeal Court solidifies Abure’s leadership and is expected to bring clarity to the party’s internal structure.
More details on the ruling are expected to be released soon.
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