A political confrontation has erupted between two lawmakers in Delta State over who should be credited for attracting a key road project.

The feud involves Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, the immediate past Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly.

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The dispute centers on the Issele-Asagba/Otulu road project, a vital infrastructure initiative in the Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency.

Nwaobi’s Media Support Group, led by Patrick Ochei, sparked the controversy by claiming in a recent publication that Nwaobi was responsible for securing the project.

They further alleged that the construction contract was awarded to Elumelu.

Elumelu’s team swiftly dismissed these claims, issuing a strongly worded statement denouncing the report as false and accusing Nwaobi’s camp of distorting the facts for political gain.

According to Elumelu’s Media Office, the project was attracted by Elumelu himself, and this is clearly stated on the project’s signpost.

The contractor for the project, they added, is Diamond Leeds Limited—not Elumelu, as Nwaobi’s group implied.

“It is deeply troubling that the Nwaobi Media Support Group would resort to such blatant falsehoods,” the statement from Elumelu’s Media Office read.

“The project signboard clearly credits Hon. Ndudi Elumelu for attracting the project, and it is disappointing to see such deliberate misinformation.”

Elumelu’s office provided further context, stating that the project was initially included in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) 2019/2020 budget but was delayed.

Elumelu reportedly pushed for the road’s construction in meetings with the current governor of Delta State, who ultimately approved the contract after it was included in the state’s budget.

Elumelu’s team accused Nwaobi’s camp of trying to claim credit for their principal’s efforts and urged them to stop spreading “falsehoods” in an attempt to score political points.

They also demanded an immediate retraction of the article and an apology within seven days, warning that the false claims were “embarrassing” and could lead to legal action.

The road project, which links Aniocha North and Aniocha South, is crucial for development in the area, making the stakes in this political battle particularly high.

As of now, Nwaobi’s camp has not responded to the demand for an apology, leaving tensions simmering between the two lawmakers.

In the wake of a catastrophic fire in Majia town, Jigawa State, which resulted in the loss of over 100 lives, President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive action by directing a Federal Government delegation to the affected area.

The delegation will be led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.

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Joining Akume on this critical mission are key officials, including Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Minister of Transportation Senator Saidu Alkali, Corps Marshall of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) Mr. Shehu Mohammed, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North West) Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai.

The delegation is tasked with assessing the situation on the ground, visiting the site of the tragedy, and reaching out to injured victims in local hospitals.

The announcement was made by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who emphasized the government’s commitment to providing immediate assistance.

President Tinubu has ordered that emergency aid, including medical supplies, food, and shelter, be extended to the more than 50 victims currently receiving treatment and others impacted by the fire.

In his statement, President Tinubu expressed his profound sorrow over the tragedy, extending his deepest condolences to the families of the victims.

“The President, with a heavy heart, joins the Vice President in offering prayers and support to the government and people of Jigawa during this time of tragic loss and grief,” Onanuga stated.

The President assured the nation that the Federal Government, in collaboration with state authorities, will conduct a thorough review of fuel transportation safety protocols to prevent similar disasters in the future.

He also reiterated his directive to the FRSC to enhance safety measures for night travel, including increased patrols and stricter enforcement of existing regulations.

Those found responsible for breaches of safety standards will face accountability, as the government remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding lives and ensuring such incidents do not occur again.

Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, will depart Abuja for Sweden on a 2-day visit to represent Nigeria in bilateral engagements with the Scandinavian nation.

This was disclosed in a statehouse statement on Wednesday, in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha.

It was gathered that the working visit is at the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and will be utilised by the VP to engage in high-level bilateral talks with key government officials, including a meeting with Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and the Swedish Prime Minister.

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“Senator Shettima will use the visit to explore opportunities for strengthened collaboration between Nigeria and Sweden in areas such as ICT, innovation, education, digitalisation, sustainable transport, mining, and agriculture”, he stated.

He will also meet with key stakeholders in both the Government and Private Sector.

The VP will also meet with Norrsken, a Stockholm-based venture capital impact investor, which recently launched Norrsken22, a USD 205 million tech investment fund for Africa.

Norrsken22 is a technology growth fund, backed by over 30 prominent unicorn founders, partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs building Africa’s next tech giants.

The meeting with Norrsken will provide insights into how Nigerian entrepreneurs can benefit from this fund and further strengthen the technology ecosystem in Nigeria.

Notably, 40% of the investments from Norrsken22 are expected to be allocated to Nigerian technology entrepreneurs.

He added that 12 Nigerian private sector companies that are doing business with Sweden are going independently as a private sector bloc.

While in Sweden, VP Shettima is also expected to articulate Nigeria’s economic vision and the reforms being undertaken by the administration to create a business-friendly environment in Nigeria for investors.

The myriad of opportunities that abound in Africa’s largest economy will also be showcased.

“The Vice President is expected back in the country on Saturday,” Nkwocha added.