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Projects: Our Sense Of Geography Has Been Altered By Wike – FCT Residents

Published

6 months ago

June 28, 2025

As part of activities marking the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike stunned the residents when he announced that no fewer than 19 projects had been completed and ready for inauguration.

Wike was right but the people, who had never seen such a feat in many decades, never believed the minister. And, it came to pass that as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, began the cutting of tapes to signal the completion of life-changing projects across the FCT, the people marvelled.

However, due to the itinerary of the president, the minister was forced to scale down the projects from 19 to 17, stating that he would commission the others on his own.

The first project that was commissioned was the newly-renovated Abuja International Conference Centre AICC, which happened on June 10.

According to Wike, the president accepted to commission 10 of the projects while Vice President Kashim Shettima will commission three on behalf of the president. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas were to commission two projects apiece, on behalf of the president.

The remaining two were to be commissioned by the FCT administration to round off the series of projects completed by the FCT administration under Mr. Wike, a PDP strong political ally of Mr. President who does not mind working closely with the APC-led Tinubu administration.

Out of 11 projects so far commissioned, the president has personally commissioned five.

Apart from the ICC (now Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre courtesy of Wike), some of the projects so far commissioned include; the Arterial Road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way) from Ring Road One (Nnamdi Azikiwe Way) to Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Road) and some other roads in Katampe District; the Left-Hand Service Carriageway of Outer Southern Expressway OSEX Stage II from Ring Road 1 Junction to Wasa Junction also known as Apo – Wasa road; and, The Greater Abuja Water Supply Network, Loops 1,2,5&6 of the Federal Capital City FCC.

Others are: Mabushi Bus and Taxi Terminal; Collector Road CN2, also known as Mabushi – Katampe road; the Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way) from Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III (RR3); the 15-kilometre road from A2 Junction on the Abuja – Lokoja road to Pai town in Kwali Area Council; the 16-kilometre right-hand service carriageway of the Inner Northern Expressway INEX from Ring Road 3 to the Outer Northern Expressway ONEX (Murtala Muhammed Way), also known as the Idu – Zuba road; the Interchange bridges of Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Way) over the Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Muhammed Expressway) by Katampe Extension; and, the Kugbo Bus and Taxi Terminal.

Within the period, President Tinubu also turned the sod for the design and construction of the headquarters annex of the electoral umpire in Maitama, Abuja.

Other projects commissioned include the 10km Aguma Palace–Radio Nigeria–Market Road in Gwagwalada; the 18km Nyanya–Karshi dual carriageway; the 7.4km Dutse Alhaji–Usuma Dam Road; and the 16.4km dualized road from Ushafa to War College and Army Checkpoint among others.

Months before then, Wike had commissioned some other roads in the satellite towns, including the 9km Paikon Kore – Ibwa road in Gwagwalada Area Council; the 7.2km Gaba – Tokulo road in Bwari Area Council; the 5km dualized Kuje township road from Tipper Garage to LEA Secretariat; the 11km Sukuku-Ebo-Yangoji road in Kwali Area Council; and, the 5km road to Saburi I and II in Abuja Municipal Area Council AMAC from old Keffi road near the Dei-Dei International Market.

Residents react

As expected, there has been a flurry of positive reactions from residents, including the high and mighty.

While the president has been effusive with praises of his FCT minister in his speeches at all the events, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio said he had never witnessed such pace of rapid development.

“I was a minister in the last administration. I can’t remember a day I went for commissioning of any project in the FCT”, said Akpabio.

A civil servant, Ayinde Olaniyi who lives around the Jahi area said the Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Way) Interchange Bridge over Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed Expressway) has improved connectivity within the axis.

“With this bridge, it is easier to turn to the other Lane without having to drive for long. Also, the aesthetics is lovely. People around Jahi, Katampe, Katampe Extension and Also will benefit massively from this. But it will also benefit all those who use this route daily, whether they are coming from the Kubwa do Nyanya axis”, he said.

Olaniyi however begged security agencies to ensure that miscreants don’t loiter or sleep under the bridge at night.

An Uber driver, Usman Ali said it would take some time for him and others to master some of the new roads, saying there is probably a need for Google Navigation system to reconfigure the Google Map and add the new directions.

He said; “Honestly, these roads are something else. Give it to Wike. You may not like him politically but you cannot deny the fact that he has performed. Look at this Idu – Zuba road. I never imagined that the road would be done. But today, it is done and open to traffic. It is 16 kilometres of smooth sailing”.

Residents of Pai town in Kwali Area Council were also happy about the 15-kilometre A2 Junction (from the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway) to their community.

They are even more elated by the fact that the 15.4 kilometre stretch from Pai to Gomani is currently under construction while another 15 kilometre from Gomani to Yangoji has been awarded.

Some of the locals said they now have easy access to the primary school and health centre in the area.

Kubwa residents beg

Meanwhile, residents of Kubwa in Bwari Area Council have begged the minister to include them in the scheme of things.

While they praised Wike for his developmental strides in the territory, particularly in Ushafa, Bwari and neighbouring Saburi community, the residents said Kubwa being Abuja’s largest suburban town is home to a very large population and businesses.

One of the residents, Isaiah Jacob said; “We are happy with what the minister is doing. Honestly, he has tried. That is not debatable. The other day, I went to Zuba Spare Parts Market and I decided to test-drive my car and discovered a new road. I drove on the road until I found myself in Tunga Maje. Honestly, I never knew that Wike had constructed that road. You don’t need to use the Express Way to access Tunga Maje from Zuba or vice versa. And he did not make noise about it. I don’t even think the road was commissioned. I think he just constructed it and opened it to traffic without any funfair. We are only pleading that, as his budget improves, he turns his magic wand on Kubwa”.

A pastor in Kubwa, Abraham Wetkos, listed some of the roads needing emergency repairs in Kubwa.

“The longest road here is the Gado Nasko road. It needs rehabilitation. The Arab Road which remains uncompleted, also needs a lot of work. Till now, the bridge linking it to F01 is not completed. Then, there is the Chikakore road and the Sultan Dasuki Road. I don’t think all the roads combined are up to 40 kilometres. Please, honourable minister, come over to ‘Macedonia’. We need your help in Kubwa”, he said.
(VANGUARD)

News

Eating Takeout Food Often May Increase Heart Disease Risk — Study

Published

6 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Research suggests that higher takeout food consumption may increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, like heart disease.

In a new study, published in Food Science & Nutrition, researchers said eating takeout food too often can influence systemic inflammation that underlies much cardiovascular disease.

The study of over eight thousand people in the 2009 to 2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that those who eat greater amounts of takeout food are likely to have various elevated risk factors for heart disease.

They were interviewed in their homes and also visited a mobile examination centre, where they recalled their food intake, received cardiometabolic health assessments, and had blood collected.

Mammograms may predict heart disease risk in women — Study

The researchers found a correlation between the amount of takeout food a person consumes and their likelihood of developing chronic low-level inflammation, a key driver of cardiovascular pathology.

Deaths from cardiovascular disease and the consumption of takeout foods are both on the rise, and while that does not prove a causal relationship, the study explores whether there is a connection between the two.

The study tracked degrees of systemic inflammation according to the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), a scale that quantifies the risk of inflammation related to the intake of specific dietary substances.

The three major takeaways from the analysis included that a higher level of takeout food consumption corresponded to an unfavourable cardiometabolic profile consisting of lower HDL, as well as higher triglycerides, fasting glucose, serum insulin, and insulin resistance.

Jayne Morgan, MD, cardiologist and Vice President of Medical Affairs in a reaction, who was not involved in the study, explained that “Takeout food raises the cardiovascular risk not because of one ingredient, but because of a predictable combination of nutrients, additives, and preparation methods that adversely affect blood pressure, lipids, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and endothelial function.”

“This includes excess sodium that increases blood volume and blood vessel stiffness, and unhealthy fats, usually saturated fats or trans fats, that increase cholesterol level and atherosclerosis, a condition that can lead to heart attack and stroke.”

Michelle Routhenstein, Preventive Cardiology Dietitian at Entirely Nourished, also not involved in this study, declared, “It is also important to recognise that frequent takeout use often reflects broader lifestyle pressures such as demanding schedules, limited access to cooking resources, irregular meals, and disrupted sleep, all of which can quietly compound cardiovascular risk.”

News

How To Identify Fake Kiss Condoms In Circulation

Published

8 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has recently warned Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit Kiss brand condoms in major markets across the country.

Contents
Original DKT Kiss condoms
Fake Kiss condoms

In a public alert published on its website recently and referenced as Public Alert No. 042/2025, the agency said the warning followed information received from DKT International Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation involved in contraceptive social marketing and HIV/AIDS prevention.

NAFDAC stated, “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is notifying the public about the sale and distribution of fake Kiss condoms in various Nigerian markets.

“The information was received from the MAH-DKT International Nigeria, a leading non-governmental organisation focused on contraceptive social marketing. Its mission is to provide Nigerians with affordable and safe options for family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention.

“The fake Kiss condoms have been reported to be found in Onitsha Market, Idumota Market, Trade Fair Market, and various markets in Kano, Abuja, Uyo, Gombe, Enugu, and others.”

Kiss condom is a brand of male latex condoms designed to offer sexual protection, including the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis.

To help consumers avoid counterfeit products, NAFDAC outlined key differences between original and fake Kiss condoms.

Original DKT Kiss condoms
The original product comes in a light red box pack with clear instructions printed on the lower part of the pack, including single-use warnings and storage and caution information. The box contains detailed medical device information, including MDSS GmbH, Germany, and a complete Nigerian address at Isolo Industrial Layout, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

The condom pack is light red, with the word “Kiss” closely written on six lines. The wallet outer pack is lighter red, carries the Oshodi-Apapa address, manufacturer details, and a clear product description beside the condom image. The hidden flap includes revision dates, medical device details, and caution information, while the wallet inner contains detailed instructions and eight bullet points under important notes.

The original condom is large, oval-shaped, well-lubricated, and has a large teat end for semen collection.

Fake Kiss condoms
In contrast, fake Kiss condoms come in darker-coloured box packs with little or no additional information. Some boxes are plain white inside and lack condom images. The address is wrongly listed as 42, Montgomery Road, Yaba, Lagos, while the manufacturer’s address is incomplete or missing. Storage and caution information is absent.

The condom pack is darker, with “Kiss” loosely written on five lines and wide spacing. The condom strip is longer than the original. The wallet outer pack is also darker red, carries incorrect or missing addresses, lacks colour wave designs, and shows inconsistencies in barcode lines. Medical device and caution information are missing, and the hidden flap contains no details.

Inside the wallet, information is summarised with only six bullet points. The fake condom is thinner, round-shaped, less lubricated, and has a smaller teat end.
(TRIBUNE)

News

Lagos: Police Arrest 14 Suspected Traffic Robbers On Lekki-Epe Expressway

Published

11 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Fourteen persons suspected to be involved in traffic-related robbery have been arrested at various points along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos over the past two weeks.

The arrests were confirmed on Tuesday by the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, via a post on her official X handle, @AbimbolaShotayo.

According to her, operatives of the Command’s Tactical Squad based in Elemoro carried out the operations that led to the suspects’ apprehension.

She explained that the arrests followed sustained patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at curbing criminal activities associated with traffic congestion and improving the safety of motorists and other road users along the busy corridor.

Adebisi noted that the development reflects the Command’s determination to strengthen security and uphold law and order on the Lekki-Epe axis, adding that the Tactical Squad has continued to proactively identify crime-prone areas and respond swiftly to threats posed by criminal elements.

She called on residents and commuters to support police efforts by providing timely and credible information that could assist in preventing and detecting crime.

“Security is a shared responsibility. Members of the public are encouraged to stay alert and promptly report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station,” she said.

The police spokesperson further reassured residents and road users of the Command’s commitment to maintaining aggressive patrols and security operations to protect lives and property in the area.

She reiterated the Command’s community policing message, “See Something, Say Something,” stressing the importance of cooperation between the police and the public in sustaining peace and security.