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Namnai Bridge: Senator Manu, other Taraba prominent indigenes raise alarm, ask Tinubu to intervene
The Senator representing Taraba Central Senatorial District, Haruna Manu and other prominent indigenes from the state have called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently come to the rescue people of the state with the construction of the collapsed bridge at Namnai, along Jalingo- Wukari Federal High Way.
The bridge which collapsed in August last year, linked southern part of the country with the North East region as well as the Federal Capital Territory and other border states of Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa, serving as vital gate way for economic and social activities.
With the collapse of the bridge, motorists were left stranded for weeks before some individuals mobilised canoes and ferries to the river to provide a temporary succour to cross the vehicles.
The bridge which was completely washed away after a heavy rainfall has exacerbated economic strain on the local community and other road users.
Similarly business activities were crippled and caused a set back to the area because vehicles conveying goods and services have to divert to Garba-Chede-Mutum and Jalingo road which is about 120 kilometres before reaching their destination on both sides.
Our correspondent reports that since the collapse of the bridge five months ago, there has not been any form of intervention either from the state government or the Federal government.
Motorists were left to their fate to carry their cross.
As the possibility of reconstruction of the bridge still hangs in the balance, the people of the state wonder why the case of Taraba is different from other states in the North East whose bridges collapsed the same time with that of Taraba.
They sited two bridges in the North East zone that collapsed almost at the same time with the Namnai bridge in Taraba but wondered how the two bridges located along Yola-Gombe and Gombe-Bauchi roads were all attended to and reconstructed by the Federal government.
Senator Haruna Manu wondered why the bridge along Yola-Gombe road near Savannah sugar company is being reconstructed while the one along Gombe-Bauchi road was reconstructed ,but nothing was done on the Namnai bridge in Taraba.
On efforts by Taraba lawmakers in the National Assembly towards the reconstruction of the bridge, Senator Manu disclosed that there are on going efforts aimed at ensuring that work on the Namnai bridge commences before the rainy season.
Manu said that apart from raising the matter on the floor of the Senate under matters of urgent importance, he has personality visited Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to discuss the need for the speedy reconstruction of the bridge.
“As you know this bridge links the eastern part of the country to all the states in the north East, if the bridge is not reconstructed before the next rainy season it will ground economic activities in all the states in the North East.
The Senator further disclosed that stakeholders from the state are concerned about the bridge and called on President Bola Tinubu to listen to the cries of the people of Taraba by giving approval for the immediate construction of the bridge just like the Larmurde bridge in Adamawa state.
Also, Hon. Ja’faru Yakubu Chiroma, member representing Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives said he has equally raised the issue of the collapsed bridge at Namnai on the floor of the House of Representatives under matters of urgent importance and begged the federal government to urgently reconstruct the bridge.
The lawmaker disclosed that immediately after the bridge collapsed in the middle of rainy season on 23rd August last year, he mobilised two ferries to the site of the bridge to assist motorists cross the river without costs.
“Apart from all these efforts, I also visited the North East Development Commission and requested their intervention, they came to the site and took the assessment of the damage and with the promise to come to our rescue,” he said.
Chiroma stressed the need for urgent action towards the reconstruction of the bridge which he said was strategic to the people of North East and the entire northern Nigeria.
Meanwhile, prominent Taraba indigines hold that the two members in the National Assembly from the area would have to intensify lobby, including meeting President Ahmed Tinubu urgently before the commencement of the rainy season otherwise Taraba State would be cut-off from other parts of the country.
President Bola Tinubu has assented to the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which provides for an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion.
He also signed the bill extending the implementation period for the 2025 budget from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026.
This was announced on Friday in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The ₦68.32 trillion budget for this year earmarks ₦4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and ₦15.8 trillion for debt service.
It allocates ₦15.4 trillion to recurrent expenditure and ₦32.2 trillion to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure.
“With capital expenditure accounting for about 50 per cent, the 2026 budget underscores the administration’s continued commitment to economic stability, national security, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth.
The allocations reflect a strategic balance between statutory obligations, debt servicing, recurrent expenditure, and capital investments critical to driving productivity and improving the quality of life for Nigerians,” the statement read in part.
The President also has assented to the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends the implementation period of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026.
The extension, the statement revealed, would ensure the full and effective utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure and development projects that are at advanced stages of implementation across the country.
It will enable ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to consolidate ongoing works, enhance project completion rates, and maximise value for public expenditure. With the 2026 Appropriation Act coming into force on April 1, the Federal Government will commence full implementation in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” it added.
Additionally, President Tinubu directed MDAs to ensure disciplined, transparent, and efficient utilisation of allocated resources, with a strong emphasis on value for money and timely project delivery.
He commended the National Assembly for its diligence, cooperation, and patriotism in expeditiously considering and passing the budget.
The President reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government in advancing national development objectives.
Tinubu also assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms, enhance revenue generation, and prioritise investments that will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen social protection mechanisms.
The budget is also expected to be partly financed through external borrowing, following the approval of a foreign loan plan exceeding $21 billion to bridge the fiscal gap.
₦9.85trn Increase
The 2026 budget represents an increase of ₦9.85 trillion over the initial proposal of ₦58.47 trillion that Tinubu submitted to the National Assembly, and ₦13.33 trillion higher than the 2025 budget.
The President had while presenting the 2025 budget proposal before federal lawmakers in December 2025, pegged the capital expenditure at ₦26.08 trillion and the crude oil benchmark at US$64.85 per barrel.
He disclosed that the expected total revenue was ₦34.33 trillion; ₦15.52 trillion for debt servicing.
The proposal was anchored on a crude oil production of 1.84 million barrels per day, and an exchange rate of ₦1,400 to the US Dollar for the 2026 fiscal year.
Amid the growing concerns over insecurity across the country, Tinubu said his administration would “invest in security with clear accountability for outcomes—because security spending must deliver security results”.
“We will take decisive steps to strengthen agricultural markets. Food security is national security.
“The 2026 budget prioritises input financing and mechanisation; irrigation and climate‑resilient agriculture; storage and processing; and agro‑value chains,” he told the National Assembly members.
Nigeria’s budgets in recent years have come under fire with experts critcising the poor implementation and release of funds for the execution of important national projects.
But the Tinubu administration said that the 2026 national budget was well-planned to solidify the gains of its reform agenda.
“Our ‘Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity’ is critical. It is a commitment to double down on what is working, to solidify gains, and to ensure that the shared prosperity we speak of becomes a lived reality for more Nigerians, faster,” Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said in a statement.
Popular sports broadcast journalist with Classic FM 97.3, Temisan Okomi, has died.
A journalist with News Central, Olawale Adigun, confirmed his death in a statement shared on X on Friday.
He wrote on X, “The worst way to go into the weekend is hearing about Temisan Okomi’s passing. I’m so gutted and, at the same time, terrified. This man meant so much to me.”
Recall that news of his death has since stirred reactions on X, with colleagues and fans expressing shock and grief.
The late journalist had worked with Lagos Television, HiTV, and other prominent media organizations in Nigeria.
His last post on X was on April 14, 2026, when he wrote, “The Champions League is hard, man.”
Ibrahim Abdulkarim, a political associate of ex-governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has claimed that the former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has agreed to deputize the Obi in the 2027 presidential race.
He spoke during an interview on Trust TV, said the Obidients and the Kwankwassiyya Movements are already aligning towards Obi/Kwankwaso ticket.
Asked if Obi and Kwankwaso had struck a deal, Abdulkarim said “yes, I can categorically tell you that they have agreed”.
We all know that. Both the Obidients and the Kwankwassiyya Movements are aware of the agreement”.
Recall that Kwankwaso recently decamped from the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP to the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
His move stirred suspicion that the two political gladiators may have agreed to run for the 2027 presidency on a single ticket.
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