News
Road infrastructure will attract investors – Wike
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that robust road infrastructure is critical to attracting investors and laying the groundwork for essential facilities like hospitals and schools.
He made the remark on Friday during the official flag-off of access roads to the Renewed Hope City and other estates in the Karsana District, Abuja.
Wike described the project as a breakthrough in the FCT Administration’s commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on essential infrastructure for housing developments, noting it was a promise kept under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Wike said, “What we cannot run away from is that no city can be said to be a city without a good network of roads. That is basic. What qualifies a city first is the network of roads, and then you talk about other facilities. All these houses you are seeing, without a good network of roads, make no sense.
If you want to build a hospital here without a road, it makes no sense. If you want to build schools here, without a road, it makes no sense. So, the first thing you must provide to attract even investors is the road network, and that is what we are doing”.
The FCT Minister commended the contractor, Messrs Lubrik Construction Company Nig Ltd, for mobilizing to the site even before receiving payment, describing it as a show of confidence in the FCT Administration.
He expressed hope that the company will keep its promise to deliver a quality project in good time for the inauguration during President Tinubu’s third anniversary, assuring residents that funds will be made available to ensure timely completion.
“Let me assure the residents of Karsana District that we have discussed with the contractors. We will do everything within our own power to see that funds are made available so that during the third-year anniversary of Mr. President, we will inaugurate this road network. I hope the contractors will keep to their promises”, the Minister stated.
Acting Head of FCTA Civil Service, Nancy Sabanti Nathan, in her vote of thanks, expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for prioritizing the development of the FCT in line with the Renewed Hope agenda and thanked the FCT Minister for his unmatchable leadership style in the FCT.
She added that the road project will ease traffic congestion and provide a vital link between Karsana District and other parts of the city, thereby boosting commercial activities and residential development, contributing to the growth of Abuja as a model city.
Giving an overview of the project, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda explained that the road network to the Renewed Hope estate and other estates within Karsana West begins at the outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed expressway) through the arterial road N40 within the Karsana North District and eventually connects with the arterial road N11 (Ahmadu Bello Way).
He said the contract for the project was awarded by the Federal Executive Council in March 2025 and is expected to be completed within 18 months.
Dauda further disclosed that the scope of work includes the construction of a 10.5-kilometer span of road networks, as well as the provision of modern drainage systems, solar street lighting, and other engineering facilities.
He highlighted the extensive benefits of the project, including the creation of job opportunities, reduced travel time, and improved security in the area, adding that the new roads will not only provide access to the Renewed Hope estates but also open up the Karsana district for further development, contributing to the city’s overall growth.
Technical Manager, Lubrik Construction Company, Engr. Anthony El-Khoury expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to work closely with all stakeholders to deliver the project within budget and on schedule.
All 13 passengers abducted along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State have been successfully rescued.
The victims were reportedly freed in the early hours of Sunday, following what sources described as a coordinated effort.
Meanwhile, official confirmation and operational details are still being awaited at the time of filing this report.
The abduction had earlier raised concerns among residents and commuters along the busy Makurdi–Otukpo axis, a route that has witnessed sporadic security challenges in recent times.
Security agencies are yet to issue a formal statement on the circumstances surrounding both the abduction and the subsequent rescue.
It also remains unclear whether any arrests were made or if ransom was involved.
Local sources, however, expressed relief over the safe return of the victims, describing the development as a significant breakthrough amid ongoing security concerns in the area.
The spokesperson of the Benue state Police command, DSP Udeme Edet could not be reached to confirm the story as at the time of filing this report.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced the arrest of two candidates and a parent for allegedly falsifying the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results using Artificial Intelligence and other electronic tools.
The announcement was made on Friday as the board released the results of 632,788 candidates who sat for the examination on Thursday, April 16.
In a statement issued by JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the suspects were apprehended for tampering with official SMS result notifications to alter or fabricate scores with the intention of deceiving others, including parents and guardians.
“Currently, two candidates and one parent are in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement said.
Benjamin emphasized that such actions constitute serious criminal offences and warned that the board would ensure that all those involved are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He further cautioned candidates against interfering with result messages sent through JAMB’s official SMS platforms, 55019 and 66019.
Candidates who took the examination on Thursday can check their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to 55019 or 66019 using the phone number linked to their registration. Printing of official result slips is not yet available but will be enabled later.
The 2026 UTME commenced on April 16 and is scheduled to run until April 22 across examination centres nationwide. Results will continue to be released in batches as the exercise progresses.
News
How NDLEA operatives uncovered cocaine, loud in food flasks, snacks, nabs fashion designer, others(Photos)
. Raids Edo, Cross River forests, destroys over 17,000kg skunk; recovers large consignments in Lagos, Delta, Kaduna operations
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine concealed in false bottom of food flasks heading to the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic Airline flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.
The cocaine consignment with a gross weight of 2.80 kilograms was intercepted on Thursday 9th April 2026 by NDLEA operatives attached to the export shed of the Lagos airport while two cargo agents involved in the export bid: Ama Obinna Ufeim, 33, and Ogabi Monday Akorede, 39, were swiftly arrested. Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding agent Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola as the sender of the consignment and he was arrested in a follow-up operation.
In a similar operation, NDLEA officers at the import shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday 8th April intercepted a consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, with a gross weight of 2.90 kilograms and concealed in snack food packs, which arrived from the United States of America aboard a Delta Airlines flight.
Two cargo clearing agents: Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun, were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, a 29-year-old fashion designer, was nabbed in a follow-up operation at 3 Oba Ogunji road, Ogba, Lagos, on Monday 13th April.
In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway by Gwargwaje Zaria on Monday 13th April intercepted a trailer conveying cement heading to Hadeja in Jigawa state. A search of the truck led to the recovery of 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 847 kilograms. The truck driver Umar Garba Haruna, 33, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
A 53-year-old female suspect, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested on Thursday 16th April when NDLEA officers supported by soldiers raided a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa LGA, Cross River state, where 15,000 kilograms of skunk on six hectares of farmland were destroyed and 119kg of same substance recovered.
Another cannabis farm was raided on Tuesday 14th April at Saboro camp, Ovia North East LGA, Edo state where NDLEA operatives destroyed 2,281.43kg of same psychoactive substance, while three suspects: Nweke Smart, 27; Christopher Egbe, 62; and Monday Ayan, 45, were arrested, with the duo of Christopher and Monday caught with 38.5kg cannabis and its seeds. Two suspects: Sunday Odili, 49, and Ijenebe Joshua, 39, were nabbed with 87.838kg skunk and seeds at Powerline area of Okwo, Delta state on Friday 17th April.
In Lagos, two suspects: Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu were arrested on Wednesday 15th April at Mile 2, Lagos/Badagry expressway while conveying 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection in a truck to Ghana. Same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, where a total of 95.8kg skunk was recovered.
With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Alfurgan Islamic School, Paiko, Niger state;
Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River; Heritage Model School, Ankpa, Kogi; Government Day Junior and Senior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina; Government Senior Secondary School, Rano, Kano, and De Ambassador Secondary School, Epe, Lagos state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna, and Lagos Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.
All 13 kidnapped Otukpo passengers, successfully rescued
Board cautions candidates after arrest of suspects over doctored UTME scores
How NDLEA operatives uncovered cocaine, loud in food flasks, snacks, nabs fashion designer, others(Photos)
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