NEWS
Umahi Nicknames Okpebholo Infrastructure Gov
The Minister of Works and former Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi has dubbed Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State as an “infrastructure governor”.
Engr Umahi made this remark at an interaction with media men in Benin City after inspecting the ongoing construction of the Benin-Warri Road at the Sapele Bypass axis.
He commended Gov Okpebholo’s commitment to infrastructural development within his first 100 days in office.
According to Engr Umahi, infrastructure remains the “lifeline of the people,” and he expressed delight at Gov Okpebholo’s determination to sustain and build upon the developmental foundation laid by former governor Adams Oshiomhole.
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“It is exciting to see a new governor who identifies what is good, embraces it, and continues with it. Governor Okpebholo is an infrastructure governor, considering his achievements in just 100 days,” Engr Umahi stated.
The Minister urged Gov Okpebholo to collaborate with the contractor to address the particularly bad sections of the road. This, he said, would enable the construction company to focus on critical areas to meet the projected April completion deadline.
“We are currently at the Benin-Warri Road, where Levant Construction Company is working. I have appealed to the governor to partner with Senator Adams Oshiomhole to meet with the President regarding this road. The state government must intervene because the federal government cannot provide all the funds required to complete the project before the rainy season,” Engr Umahi explained.
He further noted that the federal government expects state governments to participate actively in infrastructure development.
“It is refreshing that the era where state governments simply place signposts on federal roads without taking responsibility is over. We are now in an era of people-oriented governance,” he added.
Engr Umahi assured Edo residents of his commitment to ensuring the project’s timely completion.
“The governor has the magic touch. He has come to rescue the state, and I believe by April, the nightmare of this bad road will be over,” he assured.
In his remarks, Gov Okpebholo expressed gratitude to Minister Umahi and Senator Adams Oshiomhole for their roles in the project.
“We have been inspecting the road since morning, seeking practical solutions to the road challenges facing Edo people. The federal government’s work on this road is essentially for Edo people, so we must take ownership of the project. We will also engage with the President, who will surely listen to us. I believe he will not abandon Edo State when we need him the most,” Gov Okpebholo said.
On behalf of the host communities, Pastor Moses Osagiede, a resident of Ogheghe, thanked the Minister for fulfilling his promise regarding the road project.
“We have suffered so much because of this road. We are grateful for the ongoing construction and appeal for adequate funding to ensure timely completion. The benefiting communities will surely show their appreciation to the party with their votes come 2027,” Osagiede stated.
The Minister also held discussions with the contractor, Gov Okpebholo, and Engr. Clement Ogbuagu, Director of Highways Construction and Rehabilitation at the Federal Ministry of Works. The meeting focused on strategies to ensure the continuous progress and timely completion of the Benin-Warri Road project.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, on Thursday visited Bauchi State for a closed-door meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed amid growing political realignments in the country.
Obi, who is also a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition, arrived at the Bauchi State Government House where he proceeded to a private meeting with the governor at the Presidential Lounge.
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The purpose of the visit was not immediately known as both politicians held discussions behind closed doors.
Details of the meeting remained undisclosed at the time of filing this report.
However, sources within the Government House suggested that the meeting may be connected to recent political developments and possible alignments ahead of future elections, though this could not be independently verified.
Both leaders are expected to brief journalists after the meeting concludes.
Governor Bala Mohammed, who serves as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, has recently been at the center of political speculation regarding his party allegiance.
On March 31, he reportedly hinted at a possible political shift during a meeting with a delegation of the African Democratic Congress led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, at the Government House in Bauchi.
However, his political engagements appeared to take a different turn shortly after, as he also hosted the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, alongside Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on April 1 at the same venue.
The latest meeting with Obi has further intensified speculation about ongoing political consultations and possible future alignments among key political actors.
President Bola Tinubu has requested the approval of the Senate for a fresh external borrowing of $516.33 million, in a move that is expected to further raise concerns over Nigeria’s growing debt profile.
The request was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and was read during plenary on Thursday at the National Assembly.
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According to the letter, the proposed loan is to be sourced from Deutsche Bank and will be used to finance a key infrastructure component under the government’s already approved borrowing programme—the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway project, a major road corridor designed to enhance connectivity across the country.
President Tinubu, in the request, urged the Senate to give the proposal expedited consideration and approval, stressing the importance of the project to national infrastructure development and economic growth.
Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, directing the committee to examine the proposal and submit its report within one week.
The latest borrowing request comes amid ongoing national debates over Nigeria’s debt sustainability, as the federal government continues to rely on external loans to fund large-scale infrastructure projects.
A Kaduna State High Court has rejected the bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, ordering that he remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) pending the determination of his trial.
The ruling was delivered by Justice D.H. Khobo, who held that the seriousness of the allegations against the former governor, as well as concerns over possible interference with ongoing investigations, made the grant of bail inappropriate at this stage.
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El-Rufai had approached the court seeking release on bail pending trial over a nine-count charge filed by the Federal Government through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
He argued that the offences were not capital in nature and that he posed no flight risk, citing his community ties, fixed residences, and willingness to cooperate with investigators.
He also told the court that he voluntarily returned to Nigeria to honour official invitations and challenged the validity of the charges, describing them as defective.
Additionally, he raised health concerns, requesting bail on medical grounds.
However, the prosecution opposed the application, insisting that the alleged offences were serious and economically damaging, with a likelihood that the defendant could interfere with witnesses and ongoing investigations.
In his ruling, Justice Khobo held that the gravity of the charges and the risk of interference outweighed the arguments for bail.
The court also ruled that insufficient medical evidence had been provided to justify release on health grounds.
The judge therefore ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody and directed that the trial proceed on an accelerated basis, fixing early hearing dates for the case.
The former governor will remain detained as proceedings continue in the high-profile corruption trial.
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