NEWS
After Kogi’s Explosion, Buhari Commissions Flyover, Reference Hospital, Other Projects
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has attested to the remarkable legacy works of the Governor Yahaya Bello led administration, particularly the numerous infrastructural projects cutting across different sectors as well as his efforts at securing the state noting that the federal government was indeed proud of him.
The President made this remark while delivering his speech at the conference hall of the newly commissioned ultra modern Ohinoyi’s palace before officially commissioning projects including the world class Reference Hospital in Okene, emergency response ambulances, GYB Model Science Secondary School in Adankolo, Ganaja junction flyover bridge, Muhammadu Buhari Civic center, road construction and other legacy projects of his administration.
He expressed that he was excited to be in the state to commission several legacy projects by the GYB led administration noting that his administration was such which prides in the fulfillment of the obligations made to the Nigeria people at the National and sub national level hence his glad disposition of the impressive array of legacy projects in Kogi.
While listing the diverse projects which would be commissioned, he highlighted that the Reference Hospital which boasts of the first hyperbaric treatment chamber was a commendable feat alongside the fleet of Ambulances attached to it for emergency medical response.
The President noted that his administration was working to reposition Kogi state for a bright future as an industrial hub as the government was passionate about activating the confluence state as the center of Nigeria’s solid minerals, especially iron and steel.
President Buhari asserted that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex holds the potential to unlocking such great potential which his administration inherited amidst a tangle of local and international commercial disputes but was glad to note that his government has genuinely rescued Ajaokuta from all legal liabilities and was ready for concession to a private investor that would put it to work for Nigeria and Kogi’s socio economic benefits.
He added that the process has cost the Federal Government over $400million so far but he considered it money well spent as his administration moved closer to achieving its objective of transforming Kogi State into Nigeria’s iron and steel power house. The President alluded that the benefits of getting Ajaokuta working again are numerous as it would provide an estimated over 500, 000 jobs and more than $1.6billion annual income to Nigeria promising to see the process to a logical conclusion.
Governor Yahaya Bello while delivering his speech thanked the President for granting the request to visit the state to commission some of the numerous legacy projects of his administration, a visit which the governor acknowledged was historic and had thrown the whole state into jubilation and celebration.
He recalled that when he was sworn in on 27th January 2016, his government was determined to serve the people hence the commissioning of a competent and professional diverse team who produced the New Direction Blueprint which has remained his administration’s guide in delivering good dividends and accelerated development to the people and in the state.
The document which according to the governor was a vox populi of the summation of the needs of the citizenry have yearly been zeroed down to the state’s budgetary allocation which his administration have ensured the fulfillment of every promise made to the electorate during every campaign. We have also ensured that the entirety of the people of Kogi state have benefitted from their financial, natural and every other resources, he added.
Earlier, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim who was represented by the Ohi of Okenwe, noted that the President’s visit for the commissioning was highly historic as it had been a long time dream that Kogi state would be projected to the world.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government’s plan to secure an additional N1.7 trillion loan through Eurobonds to cover a shortfall in the 2024 budget, describing the borrowing as unsustainable and harmful to Nigeria’s economy.
In a statement shared on Thursday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of burdening Nigerians with debt while failing to provide clear answers about the country’s fiscal challenges.
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He also faulted the National Assembly for enabling what he called a “voracious appetite” for loans.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate expressed alarm over a recent World Bank report ranking Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), calling the development troubling.
“The recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), is very concerning,” Atiku stated.
He raised further concerns about the government’s decision to benchmark the proposed loan at an exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official rate being over N1,600.
“What makes this particular loan proposal even more concerning is that it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD,” he said.
Atiku questioned the need for additional borrowing, given the government’s earlier claims of record-high revenue collection.
“In July this year, Tinubu boasted that the FIRS and Customs under his watch had collected all-time high revenues to finance the budget. Why are they still borrowing?” he said
He accused the government of a lack of transparency, describing the borrowing spree as detrimental to Nigerians already struggling under economic hardship.
“There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.”
Atiku also referenced a report by BudgIT, a budget monitoring group, which criticized the 2024 budget for its inefficiencies.
He alleged that corruption, rather than infrastructure or development needs, was driving the government’s borrowing decisions.
“These loans are powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs. This voracious appetite for humongous loans is deeply concerning,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s financial history, Atiku lamented the return to significant foreign indebtedness just years after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration cleared the country’s debt.
“It is agonizing to see that just a few years after the Obasanjo administration took us out of foreign indebtedness, we are today back at the top spot in the same conundrum,” he stated.
He called for a more cautious approach to borrowing, urging the government to prioritize fiscal responsibility and transparency to avoid worsening Nigeria’s economic challenges.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step, issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The charges include crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Israel’s recent assault on Gaza.
In a detailed statement, the ICC accused the Israeli leaders of “intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”
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The ICC’s move marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant are alleged to have orchestrated policies that caused severe harm to the civilian population in Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.
Alongside the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Deif has long been a central figure in Hamas’s military operations. Israel’s military claims to have killed him in a July airstrike, although this has not been independently verified.
The warrants highlight growing calls for accountability amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The ICC’s actions are likely to provoke heated debate and may complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
With the warrants issued, global attention now turns to how the international community will respond and whether any practical steps will be taken to enforce them.
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has inaugurated a 12-member committee tasked with recovering government vehicles reportedly in private hands.
The committee, led by Kelly Okungbowa, has been given a two-week mandate to retrieve the vehicles and ensure their return to the state government.
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Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo emphasized the importance of accountability in the management of public resources.
He urged the committee to carry out its assignment thoroughly and within the bounds of the law.
In his response, Okungbowa expressed gratitude to the governor for entrusting the team with the assignment, vowing to deliver results within the stipulated timeframe.
“A lot of vehicles used by the past administration are missing, as those in custody of the vehicles have refused to return them,” Okungbowa said.
“The governor deemed it fit to inaugurate us today with a mandate to recover all government vehicles in private hands.”
The committee, which includes representatives from Edo’s three senatorial districts, is set to investigate and recover the vehicles based on credible intelligence already at their disposal.
“We already have vital information regarding some persons still holding government vehicles,” Okungbowa stated. “We will do the job according to the law, and both the government and the people will be satisfied with the outcome.”
He also called on members of the public to assist the committee by providing information about any government vehicles that may still be in private possession.
“We want to appeal to members of the public who might be aware of anyone still keeping government vehicles in their houses to please inform us to enable the committee to recover such for the Edo State Government,” Okungbowa said.
The committee’s vice chairman, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, will work alongside other members to ensure the success of the initiative. The public can reach the committee at 08110165121.
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