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.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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