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Calabar Coastal Highway: Minister, Stakeholders Visit Progress on Akwa Ibom, Cross River Sections

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The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, members of the National Assembly and other stakeholders in the Nigeria project have paid a working visit to Sections 3A and 3B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

Biztellers reports that they made the visit on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

Recall that Messrs Hitech Africa Construction Company is handling the 71.4-kilometre segment, part of the 750-kilometre highway, flagged off in April, 2025.

Engr. Umahi praised the contractor for maintaining quality standards, utilising advanced equipment, and employing skilled workers. He also commended them for completing and commissioning Section I, Phase I (Ahmadu Bello Way-Eleko Village) in Lagos State, in June 2025, ahead of schedule, with the ceremony presided over by the President, His Excellency, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR.

He urged them to replicate this performance on Sections 3A and 3B, directing that construction should proceed both during the day and at night.

The Minister stated, “The God that brought His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to undertake this courageous project is still on the Throne and will sustain him to complete it, setting the country on the path of greatness.” He highlighted that features such as relief stations, solar lighting, and CCTV cameras will be included along the highway, with emergency response times not exceeding 10 minutes.

He encouraged the people of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, and indeed all Nigerians, to support Mr. President in realising his 27-year-old dream of building a Coastal Highway, similar to those in other countries with coastlines. “He is the actualiser of dreams, including that of former President Shehu Shagari of blessed memory, who about 47 years ago envisioned constructing the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, and the colonial-era 465-kilometre Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Kogi-Abuja, the Trans-Saharan Highway, which connects with the fourth Legacy Project at Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe. What more can we expect from a visionary leader?”

The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Dany Aboud, expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity and assured the Minister that they would work day and night, deploying more personnel and resources. He pledged that construction on both segments would be completed within the 36-month contract period.

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On behalf of the Members and leadership of the National Assembly, Senate Committee Chairman on Works, Sen. Mpigi Barinada, commended the quality of the work. He urged Nigerians to appreciate the significant earthwork involved, especially given the swampy terrain, which justifies the project’s huge capital outlay. He assured the public that they will get value for their money and reaffirmed the partnership between the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Works to realise the President’s vision.

The newly deployed Permanent Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Adeladan, who previously served as Director of Procurement at the Ministry, emphasised, “the quality of work is very high, quite high. We are very confident that, with the contractor’s commitment and the Minister’s leadership, this project can be completed on time, making Nigerians proud.”

Earlier, the Acting Director, Highways (Bridge and Design), Engr. Musa Sa’idu, and the Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Vincent Okoruwa, briefed the Minister on progress. They confirmed that the contractor is adhering to the approved design and that there are no obstacles to timely completion. Engr. Sa’idu noted the use of grade 40 concrete with Y20 by Y16 reinforcement at 500-metre intervals, adding, “When finished, it will outlive all of us.”

Additionally, leaders from the PDP, ADC, and Action Alliance, set aside party differences to commend the contractor, the Ministry, and the President for spearheading this infrastructure revival. They opined that once something good is happening, it should be pointed out and appreciated by all well-meaning citizens.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South South Zone, Ms. Gift Johnbull, lauded the project, emphasising that “it is about the people, which is what the Renewed Hope Agenda is hinged upon.” She highlighted that completed projects will enable farmers like Mrs. Odeh or Mr. Effiong to transport their yam, palm oil, garri, and other commodities to markets in Lagos, thereby creating more wealth. She describes the project as a generational game changer.

On his way to Calabar from Uyo, the Minister also inspected ongoing work on the Calabar-Odukpani-Itu Road project, which includes a spur to Ididep Itam and Ikot Ekpene. He expressed concern over the slow progress by one of the contractors, Messrs Raycon and Company (Nigeria) Limited, on a 9.7-kilometre section. The contractor’s claim of not receiving mobilisation funds was rejected, with the Minister reminding him that the Ministry’s policy requires contractors to report to the site and achieve a reasonable level of work certified before mobilisation funds are released.

Based on this, the Minister announced the contract’s termination and directed the Federal Controller of Works in Akwa Ibom to issue a stop-work order. He also instructed a detailed assessment of the work completed to facilitate payment. Furthermore, he ordered Messrs Hitech Africa Construction Company to take over the project on an emergency procurement basis, assuring road users that it would be completed within two months.

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‘Dem Dey Use Stick Dey Flog Women’ — Nigerians in India Camp Cry Out

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Nigerian women allegedly being held at a deportation facility in India have cried out over their treatment, with a video circulating online showing some of them displaying injuries and alleging that security personnel flogged detainees.

The video began circulating online on Wednesday and shows a group of Nigerian women inside and around what they described as a deportation camp.

Several of the women pointed to marks, bruises and apparent injuries on their legs, feet and bodies while alleging that they were beaten with sticks or canes.

SEE ALSO: Rufai Oseni Row: NiDCOM Breaks Silence on Nigerians Detained in India, Addresses Ekene’s Case

“See my video, see my leg,” one of the women could be heard saying in the footage.

Another woman said, “Mona see wetin dem dey do for deportation camp.”

“Deportation camp, na dem flog person, see,” another woman said while showing what appeared to be an injury.

The women further alleged that female detainees were beaten with sticks.
“Dem dey use stick dey flog women, mona dey see am,” one of them said.

Another woman, while pointing at an injured detainee, said, “Dem carry cane flog o… see her body, dem flog am.”

The women also alleged that police officers carried sticks inside the facility.

“Police carry stick like say dem dey cut firewood,” one of the women said.

The footage shows the women appearing distressed as they moved through the facility and gathered in an outdoor area.

They repeatedly appealed to Nigerians to share the video and draw attention to their situation.

“Make una see… make this video trend/go,” one woman said.

“Make una share am,” another added.
One of the women also expressed frustration over their alleged experience at the facility, saying, “We don suffer, every time, every time.”

The footage comes amid ongoing concerns over Nigerians detained at the Lampur detention centre, also known as Sewa Sadan, in New Delhi.

Recall that in September, reports emerged that more than 200 Nigerians were being held at the facility, with some detainees alleging poor food, inadequate medical care and prolonged detention.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) subsequently defended its handling of the situation and said the Nigerian High Commission in India was seeking another amnesty period to facilitate the departure of Nigerians without proper immigration documentation.

No official response from the Indian authorities or the Nigerian government specifically addressing the allegations in the latest video had been made available at the time of publication.

 

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‘Military Gets Huge Budgets, Yet Air Crashes Persist’ — Shehu Muhammad

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Military Conducts Mass Burial For Slain Soldiers In Niger Ambush, Air Crash

Rights activist, public affairs analyst and Chief Executive Officer of The Dialogue, Shehu Muhammad, has questioned the continued occurrence of military aircraft crashes despite the huge budgetary allocations to the country’s defence and security sector.

Muhammad spoke while reacting to the recent Nigerian Navy aircraft crash in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

Describing the incident as “one incident too many,” he recalled that Nigeria had recorded several military aircraft crashes involving the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army over the years.

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He said the recurring incidents had raised concerns among members of the public about the condition of military aircraft and the process through which military hardware is procured.

“People have begun to cast aspersions as to the honesty, sincerity, and openness in the purchase of military hardware, including airplanes,” Muhammad said.

According to him, the concerns are heightened by the substantial funds allocated to the military and other security agencies over the years.

“There are insinuations by the public that, after all, the military receive the highest amount of money from the budget year in, year out,” he said.

Muhammad also questioned the transparency of defence procurement, particularly the process of selecting contractors for the supply of military equipment.

He argued that the repeated crashes should prompt authorities to examine military aviation operations, aircraft procurement and the management of defence resources.

The latest crash occurred in Irele, Ondo State, with recovery efforts reportedly complicated by the difficult terrain around the crash site.

Muhammad said the latest incident should not be treated in isolation, but should lead to broader questions about military aviation safety and the management of resources allocated to the defence sector.

He called for greater transparency and accountability in the procurement and management of military hardware to restore public confidence.

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‘NYSC Has Outlived Its Usefulness, Should Be Scrapped’ — Shehu Muhammad

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Gombe NYSC Prioritises Safety of Corps Members

Rights activist and public affairs analyst, Shehu Mohammed, has called for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), saying the scheme has outlived its usefulness amid growing security concerns across the country.

Shehu made the call on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, while reacting to the kidnapping of prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps in Akwa Ibom and Anambra states.

He described the incident as “one incident too many,” noting that kidnapping, maiming and the detention of victims in kidnappers’ camps had become frequent in several parts of the country.

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“I think it is just a case of one incident too many. There are more unreported cases of kidnapping and maiming and detention in kidnappers’ den, almost all over the country, especially in the northern part of the country: the Middle North West, North East, and North Central. It’s a daily, daily happening,” Sani said.

He said the security situation had made him question the continued relevance of the NYSC scheme, which was established to promote national unity.

“When Bukola was saying that she objects to the scrapping of NYSC, I tend to take a different view. My view is that the entire NYSC was meant to unite Nigeria, but if in uniting Nigeria you lose your daughter, you lose your son, you lose your uncle, you lose your sister, you lose your neighbour, then it’s not worth the trouble,” he said.

Shehu argued that corps members should instead be allowed to serve in their respective states, eliminating the need for young Nigerians to travel long distances to orientation camps.

“This NYSC issue should be scrapped, removed from the constitution, allow each and every corps member to serve in his own state, traveling with all the dangers, with all the costs,” he said.

He also highlighted the financial burden placed on families when corps members are posted far from their home states.

“If a child is going from Katsina to Anambra State to report to the camp, minimum that you give him is three hundred thousand naira for transfer cost, three hundred. How many parents have three hundred thousand naira to give their wards?” Sani asked.

He said the financial burden was only one aspect of the problem, with corps members also facing security risks and possible trauma during interstate travel.

“Minus all the dangers, the consequences, the uncertainties, the traumas involved. If your child has to go through a trauma, through uncertainty, through pain, through kidnapping, through raping, eventually through killing, why do you have to go for NYSC?” he said.

“As far as I’m concerned, the NYSC project has outlived its usefulness. It should be scrapped.”

Shehu also warned that kidnapping in Nigeria was taking a new dimension, with criminal groups increasingly targeting vulnerable groups.

“Corps members are vulnerable groups. Travelers for commercial purposes all over the country are vulnerable groups. Therefore they are now going for soft targets,” he said.

According to him, kidnappers also use abductions to blackmail victims’ families and government authorities into paying ransom.

“The next one is blackmailing either the parents or blackmailing government to collect money,” he said.
Sani alleged that ransom payments were subsequently used to finance criminal activities.

“So they can finance their arm purchase. They can finance their purchase of hard drugs to enable them operate without pity and compassion, and to send permanent fear into the community,” he said.

He added that the kidnappers were using their activities to create fear within communities, despite being relatively few in number.

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