News
Tinubu Flags Off Tungan Madaki-Zuba Road(Photos)
… Moves to Deepen Integration of Satellite Towns into Abuja Development plan
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, advanced his administration’s drive to integrate satellite communities into the Federal Capital Territory’s development framework with the flag-off of the construction of the access road linking Tungan Madaki to the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway through Zuba.
The President, represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said the project is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at ensuring that rural and suburban communities benefit from the same level of infrastructure development as residents of the city centre.
According to him, the road project formed a critical component of a broader strategy to connect communities, stimulate economic activities, improve mobility and unlock investment opportunities across the FCT.
“This project is a direct continuation of the road from the Bill Clinton Drive to Tungan Madaki Community Road which we commissioned a few weeks ago as part of the activities marking the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Administration.
“What began as one road is now growing into a network, and that is how real development takes root,” Tinubu said.
The President noted that residents of Tungan Madaki, Zuba and neighbouring communities, many of whom are farmers, traders and students, have endured years of poor road access that hindered movement, increased transportation costs and limited economic opportunities.
He explained that the new road would provide a direct link to the Abuja-Kaduna Highway, reduce travel time, lower vehicle maintenance costs and facilitate the movement of goods and services.
“This new road will link Tungan Madaki directly to the Abuja-Kaduna Road, cutting travel time, reducing vehicle maintenance costs, and opening a faster route for people and goods.
“It will connect rural productivity to urban opportunity. When farmlands are opened, food becomes cheaper in our markets. When communities are connected, young people have more reason to build enterprises at home,” he stated.
Tinubu further stressed that infrastructure development remains central to his administration’s economic agenda, describing roads as catalysts for prosperity, security and social inclusion.
“Infrastructure is not just concrete and asphalt. It is the bridge between potential and prosperity, and that is the core of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he added.
The President said the project would also ease traffic pressure on the Abuja city centre, provide alternative routes for commuters and strengthen the economic corridor between the FCT, Kaduna and the wider North-West region.
He noted that improved infrastructure along the axis would encourage investments in housing, healthcare, education and industrial development.
Commending the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for the pace of infrastructure delivery in the capital city, Tinubu said the administration was witnessing a renewed emphasis on project completion and measurable results.
“From major highways to community access roads like this one, we are seeing a return to planning, a rejection of abandoned projects, and a focus on results that citizens can feel,” he said.
The President also directed the contractor to ensure timely completion and quality delivery of the project while engaging local labour to create employment opportunities for youths in the area.
Earlier, FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, said the road project was in line with Tinubu’s directive that all satellite towns and area councils should be adequately connected to the city centre through modern road infrastructure.
Wike disclosed that the project emerged after the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council drew the administration’s attention to the need for a direct link between Zuba and Abuja to reduce travel stress on residents.
“It has been the directive of Mr. President that all communities and all satellite towns must be linked up to the city. What we are doing today is to fulfil that promise that Mr. President made to Nigerians,” Wike said.
He explained that upon completion, residents of Zuba and adjoining communities would enjoy easier access to Abuja and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport without having to travel through Gwagwalada.
The minister described the project as another milestone in the FCT Administration’s efforts to open up rural communities and improve the quality of life of residents.
He expressed optimism that the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, would complete the project before the end of the year.
“We are putting pressure on them to ensure that by December, by the grace of God, we will commission this road. For the people of Tungan Madaki and Zuba, this is a Christmas gift,” Wike said.
While delivering a vote of thanks, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, stated that the construction of the access road from Tungan Madaki to the Abuja–Kaduna Road at Zuba was another bold demonstration of the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the FCT Administration’s determination to extend infrastructure and economic opportunities to underserved communities.
Mahmoud also said the road would significantly improve connectivity, stimulate commerce, attract investment, and enhance the quality of life of residents across Tungan Madaki, Zuba, and neighbouring communities.
According to the Minister, the project reflects the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s unwavering resolve to ensure that no community is left behind in the ongoing transformation of the nation’s capital.
She expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for providing the visionary leadership that has continued to drive unprecedented infrastructure development across the Federal Capital Territory through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Iluelogbo Grammar School Old Students Association (IGSOSA), Owhelogbo, has unveiled a series of measures aimed at strengthening its nationwide structure, improving members’ welfare and accelerating the development of the alma mater.
The decisions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in Owhelogbo, where old students from various sets and branches participated in deliberations on the growth of the association and the development of Iluelogbo Grammar School.
A major outcome of the meeting was the appointment of five Zonal Coordinators to improve grassroots mobilisation and deepen participation among members across the country.
The newly appointed coordinators are Dr. Israel Adaigho for Asaba Zone; Barr. Faith Enajedu for Port Harcourt/Akwa Ibom/Abia Zone; Mr. Ben Akelemo for Lagos Zone; Dr. Fortune Erume for Warri Zone; and Mr. Simon Enajedu for Abuja Zone.
According to the communiqué, the coordinators are expected to mobilise old students within their respective zones and serve as a link between the zones and the National Executive of the association.
The AGM also approved the establishment of a Welfare/Benevolent Trust Fund Committee to coordinate welfare-related matters affecting members.
The committee is chaired by Dr. Tony Alabi, with Mr. Patrick Nebe, Mr. Nathais Otobo, Barr. Ovah Frederick, Dcns. Vivian Okpobrisi, Mrs. Flora Utunedi-Whiskey and Chief Jonathan Orife as members.
Engr. Lawrence Enna was appointed Secretary of the committee.
In another major resolution, the AGM proposed an amendment to the association’s constitution to accommodate three additional positions — Legal Adviser, Internal Auditor and Board of Trustees (BOT).
The proposed constitutional amendment is to be posted on the association’s general online platform for members to consider and vote on within one week from the date of the communiqué.
The association said the measures were part of its broader effort to strengthen its administrative structure, promote members’ welfare and ensure greater participation in the affairs of the old students’ body.
IGSOSA expressed appreciation to members for their continued support and called on old students who are yet to join the association to connect with the appropriate Zonal Coordinators.
The communiqué was signed by the National President of the Iluelogbo Grammar School Old Students Association, Owhelogbo.
Ven. Moses Edeki
Secretary General.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has again adjusted his return schedule from Europe, with the President now expected to return to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, according to sources familiar with his itinerary.
Tinubu had been expected back in the country this weekend after the Presidency announced on September 21 that he would extend his working vacation by a few days and return before the end of the week. However, his itinerary has since been revised. The reason for the latest change has not been disclosed.
Sources had earlier indicated that Tinubu would return to Lagos and remain there for up to a week before travelling to Abuja.
The President left Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin a three-week working vacation as part of his annual leave. After spending about a week in the United Kingdom, he proceeded to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The Presidency had initially announced that Tinubu would return after the three-week vacation. It later said on September 21 that his stay in Europe had been extended by a few days, with a weekend return planned.
According to the Presidency, Tinubu has remained in contact with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct government affairs while abroad. Vice-President Kashim Shettima was delegated to represent him at some official functions during his absence.
Shettima, however, travelled to New York on September 20 to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has also represented the President at some official engagements.
The repeated adjustment to Tinubu’s return schedule has renewed public and political debate over the length of his absence from the country and the constitutional procedure for transferring presidential powers when the President is away.
Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution provides for a President proceeding on vacation to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after which the Vice-President performs the functions of the President in an acting capacity.
Opposition figures have questioned whether the prolonged absence requires a formal transfer of presidential powers to Shettima, particularly as the President’s stay abroad has extended beyond the period initially announced.
The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu has remained engaged in governance throughout his stay abroad.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also dismissed suggestions of a leadership vacuum, saying Tinubu remained in charge despite his absence from Nigeria.
Speaking in Akwa Ibom on September 22, Akpabio said he was not the Acting President because Tinubu remained in power and continued to direct the affairs of government.
If the latest itinerary holds, Tinubu will return to Lagos on Tuesday, September 29, ending a four-week working vacation in Europe. Reports indicate that he is expected to participate in Independence Day activities in Lagos before proceeding to Abuja.
News
Reforms in NNPCL under Ojulari have increased Nigerians’ trust in current administration – Centre
The Centre for Reforms and Good Governance (CRGG) has hailed the transformative leadership of Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari as Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), declaring that the sweeping reforms under his stewardship have significantly boosted public confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Maxwell Onazi, the Centre described Ojulari’s tenure since his appointment on April 2, 2025, as a defining chapter in the commercialisation and professionalisation of Nigeria’s national oil company.
According to the CRGG, Ojulari’s results-driven approach has delivered measurable gains across upstream production, financial performance, transparency, infrastructure delivery and investor confidence, reversing years of opacity and operational inefficiency.
The Centre noted that these outcomes align directly with the Renewed Hope Agenda and demonstrate the administration’s capacity to appoint competent technocrats capable of delivering tangible national value.
“Engr. Bayo Ojulari has shown that with disciplined leadership, commercial focus and commitment to transparency, NNPCL can be transformed from a historically loss-making entity into a profitable, investor-ready national asset,” Maxwell Onazi stated.
“The surge in production, the restoration of regular Federation Account remittances, the unprecedented financial disclosures and the unlocking of multi-billion-dollar investments are not abstract achievements.
“They are concrete evidence that the Tinubu administration’s reforms in the oil and gas sector are working and that Nigerians can once again trust that their most strategic national resource is being managed with integrity and competence.”
The Centre highlighted the dramatic rise in upstream output under Ojulari’s watch.
According to the CRGG, the first half of 2026 alone produced clear evidence of the transformation. NNPCL recorded ₦19.04 trillion in revenue and ₦2.28 trillion in profit after tax between January and June 2026, while statutory remittances to the Federation Account reached ₦6.286 trillion in the same period and climbed to ₦7.913 trillion by the end of July, including a single-month payment of ₦1.627 trillion in July.
These figures, the Centre noted, represent a decisive break from past patterns of irregular transfers and limited disclosure.
“The 2026 half-year numbers speak louder than any rhetoric. Revenue of ₦19.04 trillion, profit after tax of ₦2.28 trillion and nearly ₦8 trillion remitted to the Federation Account in seven months show that NNPCL is now operating as a true commercial entity that delivers value to the Nigerian people,” Maxwell Onazi stated.
“When citizens see consistent, transparent remittances and rising production under a leadership appointed by this administration, their trust in the broader reform agenda of President Tinubu naturally increases.
“Ojulari’s results have made that connection clear and credible.”
The Centre further highlighted the operational gains that underpinned the financial performance.
National crude oil production has been sustained at levels above 1.7 million barrels per day for much of 2026, reaching peaks of approximately 1.73 million barrels per day, the highest in five years.
NNPC Exploration and Production Limited continued to post strong output, with earlier records of 355,000 barrels per day in late 2025 extended into higher peaks of around 365,000 barrels per day.
Gas production also strengthened, hitting 7,841 million standard cubic feet per day in June 2026, supporting the administration’s gas-based industrialisation push.
“Infrastructure progress has been equally notable, the group added. “The Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) and Obiafu–Obrikom–Oben (OB3) gas pipelines advanced to 94 per cent and 98 per cent completion respectively in 2026, while major upstream projects such as Bonga Southwest-Aparo moved closer to delivering additional barrels and jobs.
“Cost discipline remained a priority, with Ojulari’s team achieving $3.4 billion in savings through systematic contract reviews and optimisation.
“These are not isolated successes. Higher production, stronger gas output, near-completion of critical pipelines and multi-billion-dollar cost savings form a coherent picture of a national oil company that is finally being run with commercial rigour,” Onazi said.
The Centre for Reforms and Good Governance concluded that Ojulari’s first year-plus in office has set a new benchmark for public-sector performance and provided a clear demonstration that competent, reform-minded leadership can deliver results that benefit the entire nation.
It called on stakeholders to sustain support for the ongoing transformation so that the gains already recorded can be consolidated and expanded in the years ahead.
IGSOSA Restructures, Names Zonal Coordinators, Moves to Strengthen Members’ Welfare
Tinubu Shifts Return Date Again, Now Expected Back Tuesday
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