News

250km Benin-Asaba Highway Reconstruction To Be Completed In 30 Months – Works Minister

Published

1 year ago

March 23, 2025

Editor

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpehbholo (mic) assisted by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Mr Adeniran Ajaikaye, of African Plus Partners, Minister for Works, David Umahi and Deputy Governor, Delta Monday Onyeme, at the event in Benin City

… it’s legacy project – Okpebholo

The Minister of Works, David Umahi on Sunday disclosed that the reconstruction of the 250km Benin-Asaba Highway is expected to be completed within 30 months.

The Minister made the disclosure during the flagging off ceremony at Kilometre 15, Iguomo junction along the highway on Sunday.

He said, “This construction is like a cashless programme. We will not see the money but the work will keep going on”.

“This project is 125 kilometres by 2, that is 250 kilometres. It will have solar lights and the Federal Government is not putting in any money,” he added.

Umahi emphasized the importance of infrastructure development.

“We need good infrastructure in this country. Infrastructure is the foundation upon which every other programme thrives.”

The project is to be funded through a Public Private Partnership

On his part, Governor Monday Okpebholo, who represented President Tinubu at the occasion, called the road a legacy project.

He noted that “Edo State is now becoming like Lagos in terms of infrastructural development.”

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, thanked the President for his efforts.

He described the Benin-Asaba road as “a critical infrastructure that connects the Eastern and Western regions of Nigeria.”

He appealed to the Minister of Works, Umahi, to modify the initial project design, which was planned to terminate at Summit Junction, Asaba Delta State.

He requested that the road be extended to the Onitsha Bridge, noting that this adjustment would provide greater economic benefits and improve connectivity for travelers moving between the South-South, South-East, and other regions of the country.

Adeniran Ajakaye, Managing Director of African Plus Partners, revealed that the road from Benin City’s King Square to the Benin bypass will be a 10-lane carriageway with 5 lanes on each side.

Federal Ministry of Works Permanent Secretary Olufunso Adebiyi described the event as “a significant milestone in the president’s renewed hope agenda.”

He noted that the highway is “a crucial link between the Southern and Northern regions of Nigeria” that is “vital to trade and other economic activities.”

The Benin-Asaba 125KM Road Project is funded by the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited, managed by Africa Plus Partners Nigeria Limited Consortium (APPNL).

The project seeks to improve transportation efficiency, enhance trade, and provide a safer road network while implementing an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) to minimize environmental risks and protect local communities

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.