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Tinubu has confidence in me to manage FCT – Wike

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Wike attacks Rivers elders for supporting Fubara, questioning Tinubu
Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike
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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike on Monday, September 11, told staff of the FCT Administration that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confidence in him to manage the affairs of the nation’s capital.

Wike warned contractors handling the rehabilitation of 135 roads in the capital city and civil engineering services against contract variations.

The former Governor of Rivers State who said this while inaugurating a road project in Abuja disclosed that the projects would be completed in six months.

According to him, FCT will pay all the contractors their money to enable them to complete the project within the agreed timeline.

Wike said: “The President has confidence in me that is why he sent me to FCT. Tinubu has said we should assure you of renewed hope.

“To the contractors, let me warn you now, all these things you are doing with engineering services will not work again.

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“Nothing like variation; it will not work. Kobo, one naira, in the next seven days it becomes N15, it will not work again. It will not work, so don’t even try it. There is no variation in this job.

“We have the money to pay you. So, if you like to go to engineering services and do anything with them, it will not work.

“We are paying you your money and I assure you that nobody will owe you a dime. We are going to pay you and you must finish within the time we have agreed with you”.

He also warned the Permanent Secretary of FCT Administration, Olusade Adesola not to bring any paper asking for a reconsideration or a file for unanticipated issues, saying that “everything has been considered and anticipated.”

The minister urged residents to support the contractors to enable them to finish the job on time, adding that no development comes without some pains.

He also solicited the support of traditional rulers to ensure that the youths and all residents of their communities support the contractors to deliver the job on time.

Wike equally thanked the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Mr. Christopher Maikalangu, for publicly declaring the area council chairmen’s decision to work with the FCT Administration for the interest of FCT residents.

Earlier, the Minister of State, FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, said that the FCT Administration has recorded significant achievements in transforming the capital city, barely three weeks after Mr Project (Wike) in office.
Mahmoud said that the issue of streetlight has been addressed; the problem of sanitation was being attended to, and now the road infrastructure would be transformed to impact positively on the residents.

Also, Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Adesola, said that the projects involve the rehabilitation and resurfacing of 135 existing roads and remedial works on bridges in various districts of the FCT.

“This transformative project, according to him, will significantly impact the lives of the people of the federal capital,” he said.

He urged the contractors to meet the timeline agreed upon for the projects to be delivered, saying: “Your money is available for payment; it is up to you to work and get paid”.

On his part, Ahmed Hadi, Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, pointed out that a substantial number of the roads in Phase I, developed since 1980 have deteriorated.
Hadi said that the project would involve scarification and removal of the existing asphalt in some locations while in other places it would be asphalt overlay.

He said that the 135 roads in Wuse, Garki, and some areas in Maitama and Asokoro would be involved, covering 42 kilometres.

“When completed, there will be enhanced traffic flow and reduction in travel time and the roads will be a bit safer,” he said.

The Chairman House Committee on FCT, Mr Muktar Betara, expressed confidence in the ability of Wike to deliver the transformative agenda for the FCT.

He assured the minister of the committee’s support to enable him to succeed in his task of making FCT the desired destination of all Nigerians.

Similarly, the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, thanked the minister for taking a giant step to deliver the dividend of democracy to the residents of the city and assured him of the traditional council support.

In his remark, Maikalangu commended Wike for the laudable feat and appealed that the gesture be extended to rural communities to complement the efforts of the six Area Councils in accelerating development in the area.

He assured the minister of the support of the council chairmen to ensure the completion of the projects.

Responding on behalf of the contractors, Mr Obada Zabadne, Chief Executive Officer, ZBMC Ltd, acknowledged the government’s confidence and trust to deliver quality projects.

He assured the minister of the contractors’ commitment to achieve beyond expectations and within the agreed time.

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2027: Excluding NDC from ballot could trigger revolution, anarchy — Dickson Iroegbu warns

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Human rights activist, Dickson Iroegbu, has said that there would be a revolution if anybody stops the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, from being on the ballot in the 2027 general elections.

Iroegbu made this statement in an interview on Mic-On podcast with a media personality, Seun Okinbaloye, on Saturday night.

This comes amid confusion over the status of the NDC following the judgement of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had earlier denied the NDC access to its portal for the upload of candidates.

It, however, later rescinded that decision.

But, Iroegbu, who spoke in an interview on Mic-On podcast with a media personality, Seun Okinbaloye, on Saturday night, charged the INEC to be careful if it thinks there would be a glitch in 2027.

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He noted that the electoral body will be shocked because the Nigerian people will keep eternal vigilance this time around because they have had enough.

According to him, the fear of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is a challenge for the All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Bola Tinubu.

“There will be revolution and anarchy in the land if anybody thinks he can stop the NDC from being on the ballot.

“Anyone who thinks he can push the NDC aside is calling for anarchy.

“Tinubu is overrated. He may have succeeded in grabbing and running with power in 2023. But in 2027, he will be shocked that we will hold him down and ensure the result is counted.

“If Nigerians do not end the APC, then APC may end Nigeria,” he stated.

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Again, Peter Obi asks Tinubu to resign, cites IMF off-budget spending claim

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Don’t spare anybody involved in alleged N585m fraud involving Betta Edu – Obi tells Tinubu
Peter Obi and President Bola Tinubu
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Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to resign, citing an International Monetary Fund, IMF, report which, according to him, showed that about N8.83 trillion spent by the Federal Government in 2025 was not reflected in the national budget.

The development was disclosed in a statement posted on Obi’s official page on July 5, 2026.

According to the statement, Obi alleged that the reported expenditure was not captured in the 2025 budget and therefore fell outside legislative oversight and administrative scrutiny.

The former Anambra State governor argued that the amount represents about two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and exceeds the combined 2025 budgetary allocations to the education and health sectors.

According to Obi, the funds, if properly utilised, could have improved public education and healthcare, created employment opportunities and supported economic development across the country.

“The IMF now reveals that about N8.83 trillion in expenditure undertaken in 2025 is not reflected in the budget.

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“This expenditure is not budgeted and is therefore not under legislative oversight or administrative scrutiny,” he stated.

Obi further alleged that the reported expenditure reflects what he described as a pattern of corruption and disregard for public finance management under the current administration.

He argued that such practices pose risks to national security, deepen poverty and weaken public institutions.

He also described the Tinubu administration as corrupt, incompetent and insensitive, alleging that the government has failed to utilise available resources to address Nigeria’s infrastructure and social welfare challenges.

Obi maintained that the latest IMF report further reinforced his earlier position on the administration, saying, “The only reasonable action is for President Tinubu to resign from office.”

He urged Nigerians to demand greater accountability from the government through lawful means.

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Xenophobia: Two more Nigerians killed in South Africa

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Two more Nigerians have been killed in South Africa as the violent attacks and harassment of black foreigners continue.

The Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg announced the deaths in a statement issued on Saturday.

The victims, identified as Emeka Iroegbu and Musa Joe, were both killed last Sunday, 28 June, but under different circumstances.

According to the consulate, Mr Joe was killed by “suspected criminals” in Witbank city, Mpumalanga province, while security operatives murdered Mr Iroegbu in Sunnyside, Pretoria.

Mr Iroegbu was reportedly tortured to death by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police in the suburbs of Pretoria. The Nigerian consulate noted that the victim was subjected to gruesome torture techniques at the hands of the Metro police, which led to his death.

The latest deaths raise the total number of Nigerians murdered in South Africa since the latest wave of xenophobic attacks began this year to four. The pattern of the recent deaths mirrors that of the two Nigerians murdered earlier in the country. These are: Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew.

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They were arrested and allegedly beaten to death by personnel of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in Port Elizabeth.

Mr Andrew’s corpse was found days after his arrest on 19 April in the Booysens area of Pretoria.

He was arrested due to an alleged altercation with members of the Tshwane Metro Police, and his body was discovered at the Pretoria Central Mortuary afterwards.

Mr Emmanuel died a day afterwards due to injuries he sustained from an attack by the SANDF.

Following the incident, the Nigerian government summoned the South African High Commissioner and demanded a thorough investigation into the deaths of the two Nigerians.

This investigation is still pending, and no arrests have been made in two months. Nigerian officials have repeatedly condemned the attacks in South Africa but have urged Nigerians to avoid retaliatory attacks on South African interests in Nigeria.

South Africa’s anti-foreigner campaign began in April, with footage of citizens attacking African foreigners circulating online. The arbitrary 30 June deadline announced by anti-immigrant South Africans for African foreigners to leave the country has further intensified tension.

Last Tuesday, many South Africans marched out in droves across cities to protest the presence of African migrants in the country, chanting “Abahambe!” This means “They must go!” in Zulu, the most widely spoken language in the country.

The deaths of at least five Mozambicans and five Ethiopians have also been attributed to xenophobic violence in the country.

The latest announcement by the Nigerian consulate now raises the death toll.

Hundreds of African foreigners in the country have also been displaced.

During the protest last week, shops were looted and properties destroyed, as has become customary in xenophobic attacks in the country.

Several African countries have so far repatriated hundreds of their citizens, including Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.

The Nigerian consulate stated that the continuing pattern of “such terrible incidents raises questions over the safety of Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa.”

“The death is coming at a time when foreigners are being unduly targeted in South Africa, raising questions about what seems to be a deliberate attempt by some elements to generalise wrongfully and tag well-meaning, hard-working and respectable Nigerians in the country as criminals,” it noted.

The consulate also demanded a thorough and immediate investigation into the murders.

“We expect the authorities to d o the needful and achieve the ultimate prosecution of the perpetrators,” the statement read.

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