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NASS Complex Rehabilitation To Gulp N30.2 Billion – Minister

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Musa Bello has said that the ongoing rehabilitation of the National Assembly Complex would cost the sum of N30.222 billion.

He stated this on Thursday when the Senate Committee on FCT carried out an oversight visit to various project sites being constructed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCDA) in Abuja.

Bello said the cost approval of NASS complex rehabilitation by President Muhammadu Buhari was N37 billion which was included in the 2020 budget of the Federal Capital Development Administration.

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The amount, he said, was downwardly reviewed to N9.25 billion in the revised 2020 budget to enable the FCDA to pay contractors, leaving a balance of N21.025 billion.

According to him, the total cost of rehabilitation work which stood at N30,229, 290,830.35 billion was not part of the National Assembly’s annual budget of N128 billion as being insinuated in some quarters.

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He also disclosed that the contract, which was awarded on 30th December, 2021, has a completion period of two years.

He stated that the National Assembly Phase II, popularly known as “the White House” was realised from 1996 to 1999 by ITB Nigeria Ltd without any major rehabilitation works carried out on the building over the years.

Speaking on other projects embarked upon by the administration, the Minister said the Federal Secretariat complex and the construction of southern park way from Christian Center to ring road had commenced.

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Others he said are rehabilitation of the expansion of Outer Southern Expressway, provision of engineering infrastructure for Wuye District, rehabilitation and expansion of Outer Southern Expressway Villa Roundabout and completion of B6, B12 and Circle Road in Central Area.

The Minister pointed out how the FCDA decided to prioritize key projects due to paucity of funds, but assured that all projects which were ongoing would be completed in record time.

Bello said: “And in deciding the ones that fit into that category, we looked at the ones that will give the maximum benefit to the maximum number of people.

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“All the four projects we visited, you find that they are all road projects that are meant to link one section of the Abuja city to another and that is the whole idea.

“The master plan has been designed in such a way that they complement each other.

“So if you finish one portion and you don’t do the other one, then you don’t get the full utility of that particular road.”

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Bello further indicated that the ministry is determined to ensure that a number of projects are completed before the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“Some of them we intend to develop them to a level whereby the next team should be able to do it.

“Ultimately, the objective is to make Abuja a vibrant city; a city where people will feel comfortable; where there wouldn’t be traffic gridlock and where facilities will work.”

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On his part, the Chairman Senate Committee on FCT Sen. Tolu Odebiyi (APC Ogun-East), who led the committee members, said, “what we have seen is quite impressive.

“We believe that in the twilight of this administration, in the next month, it is important we catalogue all the projects that are being done and prioritize the ones that must be completed before the end of this term.

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“This is so that we can also make sure we provide the adequate funding and budget for it.

“Their budget is going to be forwarded to us very shortly and it is important we come and see the state of the work and the completion rate of the programme before we take them on.”

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Senator Imasuen Kicks Off Benin Unity Cup To Foster Unity

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In a bid to foster unity and discover young talents at the grassroots, the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, Neda Imasuen, on Friday launched a football tournament titled Benin Unity Football Cup.

The tournament, which will feature teams from Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode, Ovia North East, and Ovia South West, is slated to kick off on 20 November and climax on 20 December.

Speaking during the unveiling, Senator Imasuen said the project was born out of his passion for youth empowerment and the revival of football in Edo and Nigeria at large.

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“This initiative is not about my position, but about helping our youths to discover their purpose,” he stated.

“Edo is overflowing with untapped talents. We must harness these opportunities so that our young people can have dignity, respect, and pride in what they do.”

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The senator noted that the tournament aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the sporting vision of Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, saying both leaders share a deep interest in youth development and sports as a tool for empowerment.

“Empowerment isn’t just about giving people jobs; it’s about helping them become who they are meant to be. Through sports, we can tackle unemployment, idleness, and restiveness among our youths,” Imasuen added.

Director-General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Hon. Philip Shaibu, lauded the senator for what he described as a lofty initiative that will live beyond his tenure.

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He pledged NIS’s partnership to help identify and train emerging talents through its facilities.

Shaibu also called for an audit of former sports ministers for allegedly neglecting the NIS facilities, which he said had deteriorated due to years of mismanagement.

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Commending the senator, Hon. Idehen Ebomwonyi described football as “a powerful tool for unity and cultural pride,” expressing hope that the tournament would unearth new stars comparable to Julius Aghahowa and Baldwin Bazuaye, both of whom rose from Edo to national prominence.

Earlier, Chairman of the Edo Football Association, Fred Newton, also hailed the initiative as “a ground-breaking legacy,” promising that international scouts would attend the games to spot promising players for opportunities abroad.

On his part, former Commissioner for Transport and Coordinator of the Benin Unity Cup Tournament, Orobosa Omo-Ojo said: “We must commend Distinguished Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen for his visionary sponsorship and unwavering belief that empowering our young people through sports is key to building a stronger, safer, and more United Edo South.

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“His support reflects true grassroots leadership—one that sees sports and other intangible talents as a unifier and a driver of human development.

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“As coordinator of this initiative, I see first-hand the dreams, the discipline, and the determination football inspires. From the streets of Iyekeorhionmwon to the fields of Iyekovia and the bubbling streets of Adesogbe, Ehor and others, we will discover tomorrow’s champions—young men who only need a platform to shine. This tournament gives them that platform.”

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The grand finale of the Benin Unity Football Cup will hold at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, with preliminary matches scheduled for Irhirhi Sports Ground and the University of Benin Sports Centre.

Winners of the competition will cart home ₦1 million, runners-up ₦700,000, third place ₦500,000, and fourth place ₦300,000. Each of the eight participating teams will also receive a full set of jerseys for 22 players, courtesy of the senator.

The Benin Unity Football Cup, conceived at the Benin Unity Summit, is expected to become an annual platform for promoting peace, sportsmanship, and youth development across Edo South.

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CSOs, Academia, Impacted Communities Launch Climate Justice Campaign In Edo

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In a bid to advancing environmental justice and protecting biodiversity, a Climate Justice Assembly — comprising members of the civil society community, academia, representatives of oil extraction impacted communities, media, etc on Friday launched a campaign tagged #Yasunize and #Ogonize in Benin

The Assembly, convened by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), was themed: Climate Justice Assembly: Yasunize & Ogonize the World for Socio-Ecological Wellbeing.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director, HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, said the campaign was “inspired by the struggles of the Ogoni people in Nigeria, who have faced decades of environmental devastation and halted oil extraction in their territory in 1993, and the struggle of the people of Ecuador to stop oil extraction at Yasuní-ITT, one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. The people of Ecuador voted massively against crude oil extraction at Yasuni ITT in a national referendum in August 2023.”

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Bassey added that the “campaign aims to advance environmental justice, protect biodiversity, and build resilience in the face of a changing climate. It is powered by people on the ground – activists, community groups, and allies around the globe – who are demanding that corporations and governments clean up their mess and help communities heal.”

L-R: Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Edo State, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana; Dr. Ofuani Sokolo, Faculty of Law, University of Benin; A Professor of French Language, University of Benin during the launching on Friday.

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The ED explained further that “#Ogonize is more than a campaign; it is a fight for what is right. We want to ensure that communities impacted by environmental disasters are heard, that their land is restored, and that future generations inherit a healthy planet.

“#Yasunize is about rethinking our relationship with nature. It is recognising that some places are too valuable to exploit and that we need to prioritise the health of our planet over short-term profits.”

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“Together, #Ogonize and #Yasunize paint a picture of a world where environmental justice and sustainability are not just ideals, but realities.

“They challenge the status quo and insist that protecting the environment and ensuring social fairness go hand-in-hand. These campaigns remind us that real change comes from community-led solutions and global cooperation.”

READ ALSO:HOMEF’s School of Ecology Empowers Young Activists with Environmental Knowledge

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He urged authorities concerned to ensure those “responsible for environmental damage pay reparations and face legal consequences, while shielding biodiversity hotspots and indigenous territories from harmful activities.”

Bassey also called on the
governments, organisations, and individuals are invited to join the movement, stand with affected communities, and advocate for policies that prioritise justice and halt ecocide.”

On his part, Executive Director, Miideko Environmental Development Foundation Initiative, Celestine Akpobari, who is an Ogoni man, urged people to expose those carrying out environmental degradation, adding: “If you see anyone destroying our environment and keep silence, you are an accomplished.”

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In his goodwill message, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, urged people not to burn the planet, just as he warned: “We are all threatened; everyone of us is at risk.”

Dr. Ofuani Sokolo, from the Faculty of Law, University of Benin, also spoke on Gender Climate Change and Community Mobilisation, while other academia and CSO members gave goodwill messages.

 

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Ovia South West Council Chairman, Edobor Bags National Merit Award

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The Acting Chairman of Ovia South West Local Government Council in Edo State, Hon. Charles Nosakhare Edobor, has bagged the 2025 Nigerian Local Government Merit Award (LOGMA).

He was awarded as the Best Performing Local Government Chairman in Nigeria (Security and infrastructure development, purposeful leadership).

Speaking after being conferred with the prestigious award, Edobor applauded the organizers for recognizing his administration’s commitment to localizing good governance.

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He highlighted his leadership’s remarkable strides in building a sustainable, livable, and prosperous council area through numerous people-oriented programmes and projects-particularly in road infrastructure and the provision of basic social amenities.

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Edobor dedicated the award to the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and to the good people of Ovia south west Local Government Area.

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He expressed satisfaction with the honour. He emphasized that the award would further spur him to work harder in pursuing people-centred programmes aligned with Senator Monday Okpebholo’s S.H.I.N.E and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Edobor commended Governor Okpebholo for his visionary leadership and unwavering support for local government administrations across the state.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening rural development, empowering youth and women, and ensuring the dividends of democracy reach every ward in Ovia south west local government.

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Earlier, in his welcome address at the event which held on Wednesday at the National Merit House, Abuja, the National Coordinator of LOGMA, Chief Bayode Ojo, stated that the award was designed to showcase the achievements of local government chairmen and reward excellence in grassroots governance – particularly those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to promoting grassroots development despite the challenges confronting the third tier of government.

He congratulated all the awardees for making the final list after rigorous scrutiny and spot-checking of some of their executed projects to verify the authenticity of their claims.

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Chief Ojo further urged the awardees to continue to be shining examples of sustainable growth at the grassroots and in the country at large.

 

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