News

Hope Rises As Edo, FG Inspect Benin-Abraka Road

Published

2 years ago

September 25, 2023

The Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh; the Edo State Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Engr. Ethan Uzamere and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, at the weekend inspected ongoing construction of the Benin-Abraka Road.

Impressed with the level of work done on the road, the delegation reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the development of critical infrastructure to boost economic growth and development.

Momoh said, “The Benin-Abraka Road is one of the roads under the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). This road was awarded in 2009 and about 15km out of the 88km has been constructed by the Ministry of Niger Delta Development.

“Also, I understand that there was an MoU between the State government and NDDC to complete the remaining parts of the road. I have also been told that the State government has awarded 40.5km out of the 88km, which means about 28km is left uncompleted.

“From the work done so far, I am impressed and hope the rest of the road is completed up to Abraka in Delta State so that the people in this area will make use of the road but if it’s not completed up to Abraka the purpose will be defeated.”

He added, “I am happy that the MD of NDDC is here and will take the documents back home to study them and get back to the State government because the project needs to be jointly funded to enable it see the light of the day.”

The Minister, while decrying the poor state of roads across the country, noted, “Looking at the time lines under this present administration, we should be looking at the next two to three years because we have a lot of roads across the Country and Niger Delta is bad. It’s difficult to access Warri through this route. When coming from Akure today, it was difficult to access Akure through Owan and we had to pass through Ore. That shows that the people from Edo North are completely cut off from Benin City.”

He added, “If the only road we manage through Ondo State is no longer accessible, you know Benin-Auchi road has been cut-off and it shows we are in trouble. We will begin to look at this problem. We have a listening President who will look at this because he is ready to bring development to every part of Nigeria and we believe that by the time we present the report of our findings, these problems will be attended to.”

On his part, Uzamere, while noting the importance of the inspection, stated, “This kind of visit is necessary because, the issue being looked at. The road is for the development of the people. We are here with the Minister and the MD of NDDC to see what is going on so far.”

News

I’m Being Impersonated – Goodluck Jonathan Disowns Social Media Account

Published

2 hours ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday said he is being impersonated by fraudsters.

Jonathan alleged that a fraudulent Instagram handle has been impersonating him.

In a statement by his Media Aide,
Ikechukwu Eze, the former President insisted that he does not operate any Instagram handle.

The statement is titled ‘Beware of fake Instagram account impersonating H.E. Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’.

“Our attention has been drawn to a fraudulent Instagram account operating under the handle goodluck_ebelejonathan, which is falsely impersonating former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

“This impostor account has been deceitfully posting content, some copied from Dr. Jonathan’s Facebook page, while pretending to represent the former President.

“We wish to emphasise that Dr. Jonathan does not operate any Instagram account.

“The media and members of the public are strongly advised to disregard, avoid sharing, or promoting any content originating from this fake profile,” the statement read.

News

Police Recruitment: PSC Moves To Stop Hijack Of Exercise By Politicians

Published

2 hours ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

The Police Service Commission, PSC, said it has met with representatives of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to fine tune preparations for an improved, transparent and credible 2025 police recruitment exercise.

Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations, in a statement said the Commission will be recruiting Cadet ASPs and Constables.

He said the meeting with the representatives was themed ‘Collaborative approach for a transparent and equitable Police Recruitment Process’.

Addressing the meeting, PSC Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu, rtd, said the Commission will work with the state governments to ensure a transparent and equitable recruitment process.

He said the state governments should be prepared to protect their quota and avoid hijack of the exercise in their states.

Argungu said the Commission has decided to eradicate connivance and resist trading/purchase of slots, stressing that special consideration will not be allowed to supplant merit and equity.

“We want to stop corruption in the system and open up the exercise to promote healthy competition and equitable spread.”

He told the meeting that the Commission will want constructive and impactful partnership with state governments to curb corruption in the process.

Justice Paul Adamu Galumje, retired Justice of the Supreme Court and commissioner representing the judiciary, told the meeting that the Commission was established for equity and fairness in police recruitment and operations and will henceforth ensure that nobody is allowed to hijack the exercise.

“We will rely on you to confirm that those to be recruited are from your states,” he said.

DIG Taiwo Lakanu, rtd, commissioner representing the police in the Commission, said the new PSC management is committed to reinvent a recruitment process that will produce the best Nigerian youths for the Nigeria Police Force.

News

N5bn Damage: NNPCL Secures Appeal Court Victory Against Ararume

Published

2 hours ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced that it has secured an Appeal Court judgement that upheld the state-owned oil firm’s appeal against the Federal High Court’s judgement that annulled Senator Ifeanyi Ararume’s removal as non-executive chairman of the company.

The country’s oil and gas firm disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday through its official X account.

It noted that the Appeal Court gave the judgement on August 8, 2025.

The Federal High Court had in April 2023 ruled in favour of Ararume. NNPCL was told to pay N5 billion as damage to the lawmaker.

Speaking on the latest judgement by the Appeal Court, NNPCL said it spares the oil firm a massive financial payout and removes a legal risk that could have invalidated all decisions of the board since 2021.

“The Appeal Court agreed to NNPC Limited’s position that the Federal High Court’s earlier decision was delivered in error, noting, amongst others, that the claim was statute-barred.

“The judgement sets a corporate governance precedent in Nigerian law and upholds the validity of board resolutions critical to the oil and gas industry’s investment and policy direction,” NNPCL stated.

Recall that in September 2021, former president Muhammadu Buhari appointed Ararume to the NNPCL board.

But, in January 2022, Ararume was replaced by Margret Chuba Okadigbo.