ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to transform the abandoned recreational garden at the Life Camp Roundabout into a modern leisure and sporting facility, as part of the FCT Administration’s broader drive to expand recreational infrastructure for Abuja residents.

The move follows the successful remodelling of the Abuja City Gate, which has become a major attraction since its commissioning during activities marking President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary in office.

The project earned the FCT Administration an award and commendation from the Office of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Green Nigeria Challenge.

Speaking after inspecting the Life Camp garden on Monday, Wike said the recognition from the First Lady had further motivated the administration to invest in more green and recreational spaces across the nation’s capital.

“Today, by the grace of God, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, gave the Federal Capital Territory Administration an award and commendation over our contribution to the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Green Nigeria Challenge and how we have been able to turn around the City Gate into recreation centres and make the environment greener,” he said.

The minister noted that the transformation of the Abuja City Gate had demonstrated the value of investing in public spaces.

According to the Minister, “It was the initiative of the First Lady to make sure that the City Gate looks like what city gates look like all over the world. Since it was commissioned, it has become an attraction centre where people visit day and night. This award will spur us and motivate us to continue implementing the ideals of the Renewed Hope Initiative,”

He described the condition of the Life Camp recreation park as unfortunate, lamenting that successive administrations had neglected a facility with enormous potential.

“It is unfortunate that governments have come and gone without thinking about this place. I must commend the First Lady for reminding us of the need to preserve areas where people can leave their homes and communities to relax,” he said.

According to him, the administration intends to restore the park with modern facilities that will cater for the recreational and sporting needs of residents.

“What we intend to do here is to bring it back and provide modern facilities so that people living within this area can come here for their daily sporting activities, recreation, relaxation, take photographs and enjoy themselves, just as it is done in advanced countries,” he said.

Wike disclosed that he had directed the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA) to immediately begin the process of redesigning the facility, stressing that the project would receive emergency attention.

“I have directed the relevant officials of the FCDA to move very quickly and present us with what is most befitting for a city like Abuja. We are going to treat this as an emergency. It cannot go through the normal bureaucratic process because our people deserve better,” he said.

The minister also revealed plans to introduce an annual New Year fireworks display at the Abuja City Gate beginning this year, describing it as part of efforts to align Abuja with global capital cities.

“Just like it is done all over the world, where cities usher in the New Year with fireworks, that is what we intend to do this year at the City Gate. By the grace of God, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, we will, for the first time in this country, celebrate the New Year in that manner,” he said.

Expressing satisfaction with the natural landscape of the Life Camp site, Wike said the administration would engage reputable firms and compare multiple proposals before awarding the contract to ensure the best outcome.

“Look at the topography; see what we have been missing. Citizens want a good life, and they are not asking for too much. The administration of President Bola Tinubu is determined to restore hope to our people. We will invite the best companies and also obtain alternative designs so we can compare and choose the very best. We want something that meets global standards, and we want it delivered as quickly as possible,” the minister said.

The planned redevelopment forms part of the FCT Administration’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life in Abuja by expanding access to green spaces, leisure parks and recreational facilities for residents.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday released the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections, bringing months of political uncertainty to an end.Several prominent politicians were absent from the list, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, whom the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had claimed as its presidential candidate.

Also missing were the senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko; former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East); former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central); and the senator representing Kebbi South, Garba Maidoki.

The development comes two months after Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured lawmakers who lost their return tickets during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries that the party leadership was working to resolve grievances arising from the exercise.

Although the APC reinstated six serving senators after reviewing petitions submitted to its Primary Election Appeal Committee, several influential politicians who had hoped to benefit from the review remained excluded from the final list submitted to INEC.

In Delta State, Nwoko’s name was absent from the list displayed at the INEC office in Asaba, with former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa confirmed as the APC’s senatorial candidate for Delta North. The outcome confirmed Nwoko’s earlier defeat in the party’s primary election.

In Gombe State, former governor Danjuma Goje also failed to secure the APC ticket, losing to retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ahmed.

On the opposition side, former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo emerged as the PDP candidate for Gombe North Senatorial District, while Senator Anthony Siyako secured the party’s ticket for Gombe South.

In Bauchi State, Senator Shehu Buba, who represents Bauchi South, and Mansur Soro, the member representing Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency, were also absent from the final list.

Buba, who was elected on the APC platform, will not seek re-election after defecting to the Peoples Redemption Party, where he secured the party’s governorship ticket. Soro had earlier announced that he would not contest either the Bauchi Central Senatorial seat or another term in the House of Representatives.

The APC’s review of its primary election results affected nine states — Kogi, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Abia, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi — and resulted in the reinstatement of Senators Sunday Karimi, Emmanuel Udende, Titus Zam, Shuaibu Isa Lau, Adeniyi Adegbonmire and Olajide Ipinsagba.

The party also replaced Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu with Prince Paul Ikonne as its candidate for Abia South Senatorial District.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The rebuttal by the Iranian foreign ministry follows Trump saying he had held off launching new strikes on the Islamic republic to allow for further diplomatic efforts, a familiar pattern in the conflict.

Iran denied that any negotiations were taking place with the United States after President Donald Trump said new talks would begin Monday in an effort to end their war, now in its sixth month.

The rebuttal by the Iranian foreign ministry follows Trump saying he had held off launching new strikes on the Islamic republic to allow for further diplomatic efforts, a familiar pattern in the conflict.

Washington and Tehran have been at war since February 28, when the US and Israel launched surprise strikes against Iran, though months of on-off diplomacy have led to periods of relative calm.

Trump last week threatened to hit Iran “very hard”, with the US leader reportedly considering renewed attacks, including against energy infrastructure.
But the president pulled back from that threat Saturday, saying the “perimeters” of a deal were there.

Iran’s foreign ministry, however, denied there were currently negotiations taking place.

“We are not currently negotiating with the United States. Our negotiations are with Oman to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during a weekly press briefing.

The Hormuz shipping route is a major sticking point in efforts to end the war.

Iran has obstructed vessels attempting to pass the critical trade corridor, firing on commercial ships.
Before the war, there was free passage through the strait, but Iran now insists on retaining control and charging fees, something the US rejects.

The US-Saudi strikes killed at least 20 militants, including Iranians, according to the Hashed al-Shaabi.

Tehran has refused to let ships travel any route other than one which hugs the Iranian coast.
On Sunday, Baqaei told state television that a deal was close on managing Hormuz together with Oman, which sits on the other side of the narrow waterway.

“We are now going to reach an understanding on a route acceptable to both sides — neither the northern route nor the southern route — but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security,” he said.
But he insisted that such an agreement did not mean the reopening of the strait.

The Israeli bombardment of Lebanon has caused widespread destruction, mainly in the south, though violence has declined since the signing of a US-Iran memorandum last month and the Lebanon-Israel framework deal. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel to avenge the killing of the Iranian leader. Israel has responded with broad strikes across Lebanon and a ground offensive.

On Sunday, a tanker off the coast of Oman reported hearing an explosion nearby, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre reported, but the ship and crew were all reported safe.

Trump told reporters on Sunday that the new talks with Iran would cover Hormuz and ultimately the denuclearisation of Iran.

The US president said at the start of the conflict that the war was necessary to deal with Iran’s nuclear programme. Western nations accuse Iran of seeking a bomb, though Tehran insists the programme is entirely civilian in nature.

“Now what we’re doing is we’re talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, without providing details of the venue or participants.

The president said he had been asked by Iran as well as US partners Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to hold off on further strikes, which he claimed would have been “the biggest attack since World War II”.
Iranian media denied that Tehran had asked Trump not to strike.
Trump has repeatedly claimed a settlement to end the war is near, only for fighting to resume. He has previously issued apocalyptic warnings to Tehran, only to later backtrack by saying diplomacy was underway.

A previous ceasefire deal between the foes fell through last month. It was supposed to open the Strait of Hormuz to ships carrying vital energy exports from the Gulf to feed the global economy.
Iranian lawmaker Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for the parliament’s national security commission, said on Sunday that mediators were trying to revive the US-Iran memorandum of understanding that was agreed in June.

That agreement was not intended as a final peace deal, but as a stepping stone to negotiations on a comprehensive agreement, though it did include provisions on Hormuz.
“They know that the main issue and, in fact, the key to the matter right now is the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, so yes, there is an exchange of views,” Ghashghavi said.
Posting on X, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said: “We must strive to compel the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed.”

AFP