News

Anger Greets Presidential Wing’s N9.8bn Rehabilitation Vote

Published

2 years ago

November 2, 2024

Editor

Some civil society organisations have condemned the N9.8bn contract for the rehabilitation of link roads and other facilities at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The Executive Council of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, on Friday, awarded the contract to Julius Berger Plc.

The Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Shehu Ahmad, who briefed the press after the 9th Executive Council meeting held at the FCT Secretariat in Abuja, explained that the contractor had six months to complete the project.

Ahmad added that the contract included the rehabilitation of the link road, access road to the presidential kitchen, rehabilitation of the hangar housing the presidential aircraft, and the holding centre for visiting presidents.

“The second memo presented from the side of the FCDA has to do with some rehabilitation, the construction of the existing link road from Bill Clinton Drive to the Presidential Wing. If you have plied that road, you know that that road is in a state of disrepair, and then there are other facilities within the Presidential Wing.

“These have shown signs of distress and dilapidation, so they are going to be rehabilitated. There is a presidential kitchen, which is founded within the Presidential Wing. There is no access from the road that is coming from the main road into that place. We will rehabilitate that road.

“These are some of the facilities that are to be done, and then there are some lights, the runway lights, on the side of the presidential wing. And then there’s a guest house, a holding center, we call it, for visiting presidents, and of course, for the other usage”, he said.

Reacting to the award, a civil society organisation, the Democratic Socialist Movement, described it as frivolous and insensitive.

According to DSM, the award is another pointer to President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s insincerity in reducing the cost of governance.

The National Secretary of the group, Peluola Adewale, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said, “It is generally about Tinubu’s government. While he has Nigerians to tighten our belts, he does not care about us as he continues to live in opulence. He does not reduce his luxury lifestyle.

“We should not forget the billions of naira spent on the rehabilitation of the vice presidential villa, and the purchase of a new jet among other luxurious lifestyles, when the majority of the people are languishing in poverty and hunger. Tinubu don’t care about the people, we can see that in his anti-poor, pro-rich policies.

“The N9.8bn presidential wing rehabilitation contract is a misplacement of priority, frivolous and insensitive.”

Also, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights questioned the necessity for the project, describing it as another ‘unnecessary project’.

“People are hungry and dying because they don’t have money to buy food and drugs, yet, the Tinubu’s government prioritises a luxurious lifestyle against the welfare of the people,” said the CDHR Chairman in Osun State, Emmanuel Olowu.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

5 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

6 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

8 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.