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Wike Issues Warning To Directors Over Delay Of Rural Development Projects
Federal Capital Territory (FCT), minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has warned that he would not allow anyone to slow down the development of rural communities in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
The minister said any director who refuses to act on files that he has already approved, is a saboteur, warning directors in the Administration against sitting on files for weeks, saying once he has granted approvals, the bureaucracy should be able to do its due diligence within seven days and ensure the release of funds.
Wike gave the warning on Tuesday in Abuja during the flag-off of the 5-kilometre Naharati-River Ukya-Unguwan Hausawa road in Abaji Area Council of the territory.
The minister said: “I know that you had suffered quite a lot in the past and you want things to change immediately. I want to appeal to you to be patient. I will never associate myself with anything that will not work. As I tell you that things will turn around positively, be assured that they will turn around positively. The decisions taken by Mr President may not materialize immediately but just be calm. You will reap it.
“We had a meeting on Monday with the most senior director and I was telling them that woe unto that director who will keep a file, that I have approved, for weeks. Woe unto you because you are a saboteur. Once I approve, do the needful. You can take a week to do due diligence. You don’t need to take 20 days.
The contractors are humans. When the money does not get to them on time, they incur more costs and then they begin to seek variation even though they know that variation is not in my dictionary. So, I need the support of the bureaucracy so that we can deliver the dividends of democracy to the people”, he said.
Wike assured that all the rural roads being flagged off would be completed before the end of the year, noting that President Bola Tinubu has mandated him to ensure even development of the councils.
“Mr President has mandated me and the Minister of State to see that we come to the Area Councils for you to feel the impact of governance. We have talked about insecurity. If you don’t have good roads can you fight insecurity? One of the ways of fighting insecurity is to provide good roads so that security agencies can chase criminals and apprehend them. If you don’t have good roads you can’t go to the farms. This road also supports agricultural development.
“The president has told us that development should not only be concentrated in the city. One of the reasons for rural-urban migration is access to amenities and when you provide that in the rural areas, people will stay in their areas.
“Insecurity does not know any political party. Hardship does not know who belongs to which party. Therefore the council chairmen owe the people to provide good governance. They have all agreed with us to work with this administration to make sure that our people will not lose out and I want to commend them for that.
“All these projects we are starting will be completed this year. None will get to next year. We must make people have confidence in the government by fulfilling our promises. Be assured that these roads in the six Area Councils will be completed before the year ends.
All these we are doing have to do with the 2023 budget. We are going to flag off more roads in the 2024 budget. It is your right. We are not doing it we are helping you. No. Mr President came to you and sought your mandate, that he would touch your lives. He is doing that now”, he added.
Earlier, Chairman of the Council, Abdullahi Abubakar said the road will facilitate the movement of goods and services by supporting agricultural development.
While he called on the people to remain united in their determination to see the project through to completion, he expressed the support of his people for the administration.
The management of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, has denied allegations that it withheld funds disbursed under the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme.
The denial follows reports by an online news platform alleging that some graduates of the institution accused the university of failing to release student loan funds approved in their names.
In a statement made available to journalists and signed by the Principal Assistant Registrar and Head of Information, Protocol and Public Relations, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, the university insisted that there was “no scandal of any kind” in its handling of the student loan programme.
“The management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, wishes to categorically state that there is no scandal of any kind in our dealings with NELFUND and the benefitting students of our university,” the statement said.
The university explained that it first participated in the NELFUND loan programme during the 2024/2025 academic session, noting that the timing of the loan application process created complications for some students who were completing the previous academic year.
According to the management, when the loan application portal opened, the university was still concluding the 2023/2024 academic session.
“As at the time the application portal opened for the 2024/2025 loan scheme, our university was concluding the 2023/2024 academic session. Some final-year students applied for the loan, but by the time of disbursement, they had already graduated,” the statement explained.
The institution said the development created uncertainty regarding the eligibility of the affected applicants, prompting the university to seek clarification from the management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
“Due to this conflict, we sought clarification from NELFUND, and they indicated that the affected individuals were not eligible since they were no longer students at the time of disbursement,” the statement added.
AAU further maintained that it had complied with all the guidelines and procedures provided by the loan fund and assured that discussions with the agency were ongoing to resolve the issue.
“We complied with NELFUND’s guidelines. Engagement on this matter remains ongoing, and affected graduates will be kept informed of updates through established channels,” the university stated.
The clarification comes amid allegations by 13 graduates of the institution who claimed that the university withheld loan funds disbursed in their names under the NELFUND scheme.
According to the affected graduates, they applied for the loan during their final year but were unable to access the funds before their final examinations, forcing them to rely on personal savings, family assistance and private loans to pay their tuition fees.
They alleged that months after graduating, they discovered that the loan had already been disbursed to the university, despite the fact that they had independently settled their school fees.
The graduates also expressed concern that the loan still appears under their names on the NELFUND portal, raising fears that they may be required to repay funds they never personally received.
They have therefore called on the university to provide a formal explanation, refund the loan amounts, and clarify how repayment obligations would be handled if the funds are not returned.
The controversy has sparked renewed debate about the implementation of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme and the need for clear administrative processes to prevent disputes between institutions and beneficiaries.
The Enugu State House of Assembly has passed a landmark law aimed at harmonizing taxes and levies across the state, a move intended to eliminate illegal roadblocks and unauthorized collections that have long burdened residents.
The bill, titled “Enugu State Harmonises Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Law 2026,” underwent thorough readings and deliberations, including review by a committee of the whole house, before being passed into law.
Members of the Assembly emphasized that the legislation would curb multiple taxation, promote transparency, and ensure proper verification of taxes through the Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue.
Hon. Iloabuchi Aniagu, representing Nkanu West State Constituency, highlighted the persistent menace of illegal roadblocks, particularly along federal roads, and urged residents to verify taxes directly with the Board of Internal Revenue to avoid undue payments.
“With this bill, we will put a stop to these roadblocks so that every collection of any state tax will be straight,” Aniagu said, stressing the importance of proper public awareness.
Hon. Malachy Onyechi of Nsukka West praised the law for fostering transparency and good governance, noting that harmonized taxes would strengthen government revenue and fund infrastructural development. He emphasized that educating citizens on tax structures is key to ensuring compliance and understanding of government operations.
Hon. Okey Mbah added that the law would boost investor confidence by providing a predictable and stable tax environment, while advocating for public sensitization to prevent misinformation.
However, some concerns were raised about enforcement and penalties for illegal levies. Hon. Raymond Ugwu suggested that proposed penalties may be too lenient and recommended the creation of a regulatory board to oversee enforcement and determine appropriate punishments.
Overall, the law marks a significant step toward a more transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly taxation system in Enugu State, protecting residents from arbitrary levies while enhancing fiscal discipline and good governance.
MultiChoice is shutting down its streaming platform, Showmax, after eleven years of operation.
The decision taken by the company was communicated to Showmax subscribers on Thursday.
“We’re writing to inform you of an important update regarding Showmax,” the streaming platform said in the mail sent to its subscribers.
“Following a comprehensive review, the Showmax Board has taken the decision to discontinue the Showmax service in the near future.”
MultiChoice said the move is a reflection of its bid to “focus on strengthening our overall digital offering and ensuring long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive streaming environment.
“Importantly, at the moment there will be no interruption to your current service. You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time”.
While it did not provide a timeline for the discontinuation of the Showmax streaming service, MultiChoice said subscribers remain their “priority”.
“We understand that this news may raise questions. Showmax subscribers are a priority for us, and we are working on plans to ensure clear communication and a smooth transition when the time comes.
“We will share further details well in advance, including timelines and any future steps, should they be required,” the subscription video-on-demand, over-the-top streaming service said.
Showmax was launched in 2015 in South Africa but has, over the years, spread rapidly across the continent, operating in scores of countries.
Its operation began to compete with global streaming platforms and to respond to increasing demands for online entertainment on the continent.
Showmax offers sports, movies, documentaries, and series streamed over the internet.
Last year, South African authorities approved the takeover of MultiChoice by pay-TV powerhouse and StudioCanal parent company Canal+.
That move paved the way for the French media giant to acquire Africa’s largest pay-TV group, which includes DStv and GOtv.
Under the terms of the deal, Canal+ has made a mandatory cash offer of ZAR 125 ($7.11) per share to acquire all outstanding ordinary shares of MultiChoice not already owned by the French media group.
The approved conditions include public interest commitments aimed at enhancing the participation of historically disadvantaged persons (HDPs) and small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa’s audiovisual sector. The commitments also guarantee sustained investment in local general entertainment and sports programming.
Canal+ and MultiChoice are now set to implement a structural arrangement, unveiled in February, which addresses local ownership regulations under South Africa’s Electronic Communications Act.
The plan includes the separation of MultiChoice’s South African broadcasting licensee, MultiChoice, into an independent, HDP-majority-owned entity.
AAU denies withholding NELFUND student loans
Enugu Assembly passes law to harmonize taxes, ban illegal levies, roadblocks
MultiChoice To Shut Down Streaming Platform Showmax After 11 Years
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