News
Soyinka: Action minister, Wike, silences Tinubu’s critics, names 2 Abuja roads after literary giants, Achebe, Clark
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has again proven that he is miles away from detractors as he named two Abuja roads after two literary giants, Chinua Achebe and JP Clark.
Recall that after a major road was named after Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka, it drew a lot of flaks from many quarters.
To this end, the political gadfly appealed to President Bola Tinubu to name two roads in Guzape Districts after Chinua Achebe and J. P. Clark.
Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and a central figure of modern African literature, while J. P. Clark. was a Nigerian poet and playwright.
Wike made the request in Abuja on Saturday, during the inauguration of Guzape Lot II Engineering Infrastructure by Tinubu, to celebrate his one year in office.
” I want to appeal to you, just like what you did last time when you approved the naming of Arterial N-20 Road after Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
“There are a lot of Nigerians who also have in one way, or the other, made their own contributions, particularly in literary works.
“So many of them have made Nigeria proud. People like Chinua Achebe; people like J. P. Clark.
“Your excellency, I want to appeal to you to name this road after Chinua Achebe and another road within the same district after J. P. Clark,” he said.
The minister described Guzape as one of the biggest districts in FCT and fast developing.
He explained that the contract was awarded in 2003 at N14 billion, during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration and divided into two lots.
He said that Lot I was awarded to Dantata and Sawoe while Lot II was awarded to Gilmor Engineering, adding that the contract was revised to over N18 billion in the third week of May 2023.
Wike said that Dantata and Sawoe had left the site for a very long time, until the Tinubu administration came on board, mobilised them back to site and work currently ongoing.
For the completed Lot II, the minister said he had inspected the execution of the project over 15 times to ensure timely delivery of the project.
He disclosed that the project was delivered despite litigations by some residents to stop the contractor from blasting rocks to give way for road construction in the district.
He also said that the ongoing work at Guzape Diplomatic Zone would soon be completed.
Dr Mariya Mahoud, FCT Minister of State, commended President Tinubu for supporting the provision of infrastructure to Guzape and other districts of the FCT.
The infrastructure, according to Mahmoud, will enhance the quality of life of Abuja residents and benefit generations to come.
“The sustainable growth and development of any city relied heavily on the infrastructure,” she said.
Earlier, Mr Shehu Ahmad, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, said that the entire Guzape District covered an area of about 1,070 hectares.
Ahmad explained that Lot I, being executed by Dantata and Sawoe covered an area of 450 hectares, while Lot II being successfully executed by Gilmor Engineering covered 620 hectares.
He explained that out of the 1,074 hectares total area, about 129 hectares has been encumbered by village settlement, of which about 66 falls within the area executed by Gilmor Engineering.
He said that the scope of work involved the provision of electrical power supply, including a 33/11 mini-injection substation to power the district one each for Lot I and Lot II.
He added that other engineering infrastructure included a mini sewage treatment plant, transformers, and street lighting poles that were erected and powered.
“The district is meant to provide services to about 1,017 plots of various usage and sizes – residential, commercial, as well as parks and recreation.
“The lot II we are inaugurating today covers 561 plots out of the 1,017 plots
“The Lot II has 31.3 kilometers network of roads, out of the 73 kilometres of roads in the entire district, while the one being executed by Dantata and Sawoe is about 30 kilomtres.
“The remaining ones were encumbered by village obstruction areas and attention is currently being given by Wike to hasten the compensation and resettlement of the village obstruction areas,” he said.
By Gloria Ikibah
A major shortfall in autism diagnosis across Nigeria has left hundreds of thousands of children without access to early support, raising concerns about long-term impacts on families and the country’s healthcare system.
In response to the growing gap, The Alternative Bank has unveiled a nationwide campaign aimed at improving awareness, early detection and access to care.
The initiative, themed “It’s How You Show Up”, is being delivered in collaboration with Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Sterling One Foundation and Eliakim Foundation.
Despite estimates suggesting that more than 600,000 children in Nigeria may be on the autism spectrum, limited infrastructure and specialist care mean that most cases go undiagnosed. Many children are only identified at around the age of seven, missing the crucial early years when intervention is most effective. The situation is compounded by a shortage of trained professionals, with fewer than 200 psychiatrists serving a population exceeding 200 million.
The campaign is designed to tackle these systemic challenges through a combination of public awareness efforts, specialised training for caregivers, and expanded access to clinical screenings. Organisers say the screenings will help families move more quickly from suspicion to diagnosis, while also linking them to appropriate medical and educational support.
A key feature of the initiative is a policy-focused roundtable scheduled for 24 April in Lagos, where healthcare experts, government officials and private sector leaders will examine how autism screening can be integrated into Nigeria’s primary healthcare system. Discussions will also explore sustainable funding options to support children and families after diagnosis.
The campaign reflects increasing recognition of the need for coordinated action to close the diagnosis gap and strengthen long-term support for neurodiverse children across the country.
Group Executive at The Alternative Bank, Dr Jekwu Ozoemene, said: “We do not see inclusion as a seasonal task but as a vital part of a healthy society.
“Through this initiative, we are not just talking about support, we are delivering it. By tracking the results of these screenings and interventions, we can build a real system that helps the autism community and strengthens the nation”.
The ‘It’s How You Show Up’ campaign is part of the commitment by AltBank to social impact investment and inclusive finance. Individuals, caregivers, and organisations interested in the screening programme or the stakeholder roundtable can visit altbank.ng/autism26 for more information.
Isoko people in a trending video have vowed to block campaign moves if light is not restored in Isoko Nation.
Both local government areas have been in darkness for years.
In a sighted video Isoko people brandishing various placards bearing graffiti declaring that if power is not restored there will be no political campaigns in 2027.
Watch:
By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria’s telecoms regulator has directed network operators to compensate subscribers with airtime where poor service delivery has been confirmed, signalling a firmer stance on consumer protection.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said the move forms part of a strengthened enforcement regime aimed at improving network performance and holding operators accountable for persistent shortcomings.
The Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, outlined the development at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, where he detailed fresh compliance measures being rolled out across the sector.
Under the new approach, operators will be required to provide airtime credits to affected customers in areas where they have failed to meet the commission’s minimum quality standards. The obligation rests entirely on the service providers, rather than the regulator.
The commission said it is now relying on more precise monitoring tools that track network performance at local government level. This allows regulators to identify specific locations and timeframes where service quality falls below expectations, rather than relying on broad or general complaints.
Maida said the targeted system will make enforcement more effective, ensuring that compensation is tied directly to verified lapses in service delivery.
The directive covers network failures recorded between November 2025 and January 2026 across several operators, marking one of the most concrete steps yet by the regulator to address ongoing consumer frustrations in the telecoms sector.
“Eligible subscribers will receive airtime credits with notifications explaining the cause and value of the compensation,” he said.
He added that notifications would improve transparency and help users understand why compensation was applied to their accounts.
Maida noted the commission has significantly strengthened its monitoring systems to capture real-time, location-specific service performance data.
“These systems ensure enforcement reflects actual user experience rather than generalised industry averages,” he said, highlighting improved regulatory precision.
He added that operators are required to implement the compensation directly, while the NCC provides oversight to ensure compliance.
“Independent checks will confirm that affected subscribers are properly credited,” he said, noting sanctions for non-compliance may follow.
Maida said the initiative formed part of broader reforms aimed at improving accountability and service standards within the telecommunications sector.
“Operators failing to meet obligations will face stricter enforcement measures,” he warned, signalling tougher regulatory action ahead.
He stressed that improving service quality required both sustained infrastructure investment and stronger operational discipline by network providers.
“Service providers must maintain performance standards consistently across all regions, including underserved and rural areas,” he said.
Maida reiterated the NCC’s commitment to balancing consumer protection with industry sustainability and long-term sector growth.
“Operators must take responsibility for the quality of experience delivered to subscribers,” he said, urging greater corporate accountability.
He added that the commission remained committed to ensuring Nigerians received value for money spent on telecom services nationwide.
“Persistent poor service quality is no longer acceptable under current regulatory direction,” he said, emphasising zero tolerance for continued lapses.
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