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Enugu/Onitsha Expressway: Works Minister Wants MTN To Commit N15bn Monthly

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Piqued by the tanker explosion which claimed many lives at the Ugwu Onyeama axis of Enugu/Onitsha Expressway, the Federal Ministry of Works is to demand that MTN commits irrevocably to pay contractors on the project a minimum of N15 billion every month for the next 10 months towards fast tracking the completion of the road.

Failing to abide with the arrangement, the Ministry might consider initiating termination process of the project.

This was part of resolutions reached during a courtesy call on Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, by a delegation from the Anambra and Enugu caucus of the 10th National Assembly who came to seek the Federal Government’s intervention on the completion of the construction of Enugu/ Onitsha Expressway, being handled by RCC Ltd and funded by MTN under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

According to a statement issued on Saturday Uchenna Orji, media aide to the minister, it was further resolved that MTN would need three contractors to do the 79 kilometers within the original contract sum of N202 billion.

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It was also resolved that the remaining 72km of the road shall be awarded to other contractors, and that MTN and RCC would be invited to bid too.

The minister assured the people of the South-East of the commitment of the administration of President Bola Tinubu to the transformation of the transportation infrastructure in the zone, like every other geo-political zones of the country.

The minister who expressed deep sympathy over the lives that have been lost along the uncompleted sections of Enugu/Onitsha Expressway especially the recent incident of tanker explosion, stated that the people of South-East have every reason to have implicit confidence in Tinubu’s ability to address the road infrastructure challenges in the zone.

He noted that under Tinubu, the South-East has been given a pride of place in the political landscape of Nigeria.

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“Again, we should also be grateful to Mr. President. Since he became President, we’ve not heard about farmers and herders clashes in the South East. Mr. President inherited 2,064 projects, totaling about N13 trillion, and today, those projects will be over N20 trillion, by reason of the floating of the Naira and the removal of fuel subsidy.

“It’s nobody’s fault. But by his good heart and commitment to rewriting the story of this country, he will make Nigeria great again.”

Speaking during the event, the leader of the delegation and Minority Whip of the Senate, Senator Osita Ngwu commended the minister for the unprecedented scale of road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance nationwide.

However, he expressed concern that some of the projects were not receiving adequate funding required to complete them in record time.

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Ngwu made particular reference to the Enugu/Onitsha Expressway that was awarded to RCC and funded through the tax credit scheme, noting that some sections of the road have become death trap to road users.

He stated that the delegation was compelled by the recent tanker mishap on the Ugwu Onyeama axis of the road in Enugu State to visit the minister.

The senator expressed the readiness of lawmakers to offer necessary cooperation that would help in tackling the challenges and bottlenecks faced by the Ministry in ensuring the completion of the road.

“We appreciate that since the minister assumed office that the President has graciously approved quite a number of projects in the South-East. We appreciate Mr. President, but we are worried that it is not just about putting projects across our zone, but when these projects are not funded, it looks like it is just a game.

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“We are worried that some of the projects that are in the South-East are not receiving funds that can make it to progress so that we can have benefits for such projects. And when it is not funded, it becomes a worry to us.”

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PFIPC scandal: ‘I borrowed N400 million to secure the appointment’ – Adeyemi Adeniyi

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The self-acclaimed Director-General of the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, Adeyemi Adeniyi, says he borrowed the N400 million to secured the job at the presidency.

Adeniyi made this revelation on Monday during zoom interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television.

He said his creditors have reported him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

He described the way some actors in government taking the matter as ‘unfortunate and embarrassing’, asking how only him could manoeuvre the entire Federal Government system.

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“I borrowed this money, the N400 million, to pay for this appointment. In fact, those that I borrowed the money from have reported me to the EFCC to refund it,” he said.

When asked to react to the report that there is a United States lobbying firm helping him to seek an asylum, Adeniyi said, “I read it the way you read it.”

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May 18 primaries has come to a close, I appeal to all my people to support all APC candidates -Ize-Iyamu

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Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has beckoned on all his loyalists to support All Progressives Congress APC candidates after the party formally endorsed all Edo State candidates.

This was contained in a statement he personally signed encouraging his loyalists in Edo South to throw their weights behind all APC candidates.

Hear him:

“Following wide-ranging consultations with our leaders, party members, supporters, women, youths, and well-wishers across Edo South, Nigeria, and the diaspora, I address you today(Monday ) with profound gratitude, humility, and an unwavering commitment to the unity and progress of our great party.

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“The APC Edo South Senatorial Primary held on May 18, 2026 has come to a close. Our party has completed its democratic process, and a candidate has emerged. I accept the decision of our party in good faith and appeal to all our members, followers and friends to do same.

“The All Progressives Congress is greater than any individual ambition. It is a platform built on service, sacrifice, discipline, and our shared commitment to a better future for our people. Political contests may test our preferences, but they must never diminish our common purpose.

To every supporter, coordinator, volunteer, grassroots mobiliser, and everyone who stood with us throughout this journey, I offer my heartfelt appreciation. Your loyalty, sacrifices, encouragement, and prayers have been a constant source of strength. I remain deeply grateful for your confidence and steadfast support.

I wish to specially thank our brothers and sisters in the diaspora across party lines for the overwhelming support they gave my senatorial bid and assure them of my continous commitment to the development and progress of our district. I urge every one of you to remain peaceful, reject division, and continue to uphold the values that have always defined our people.

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Now is the time to reconcile, close ranks, and focus on the greater task before us. Our collective responsibility to serve the people of Edo South is far greater than any individual aspiration. As we move forward, I remain committed to working with our leaders, stakeholders, and party faithfuls to strengthen the APC, secure victory in the general election, and advance the development and well-being of Edo South Senatorial District.

The contest is behind us. The future is before us. Let us move forward with one resolve, and one commitment- to build a stronger APC and a more prosperous Edo South.

Thank you for your prayers, your loyalty, and your unwavering support throughout this journey.
History will not remember the contest we fought; it will remember the future we built together. Let us unite. Let us serve. Let us win for the APC, for Edo South and for the people of Edo State.

God bless the All Progressives Congress. God bless Edo South Senatorial District. God bless Edo State.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Oba gha to kpere, ise

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Senate investigates N34tn Duty Waivers, Threatens Sanctions for Defaulting Agencies

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The Senate Committee on Finance has opened a fresh scrutiny of the Federal Government’s import duty waiver regime after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) disclosed that the value of Import Duty Exemption Certificates (IDECs) issued since March 2020 rose to about ₦34 trillion by 2025.

The committee also threatened sanctions against the heads of several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, for failing to appear before its investigative hearing on revenue remittances.

Appearing before the committee on Monday, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the agency’s revenue performance had been significantly influenced by government fiscal policies, particularly import duty exemptions granted to strategic sectors.

He explained that about 60 per cent of the ₦34 trillion worth of duty waivers covered military hardware imported to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, while the remaining exemptions applied to imports of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), electric and hybrid vehicles, medical equipment, industrial machinery, manufacturing inputs and food items under government intervention programmes.

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Adeniyi maintained that duty waivers should not be assessed solely on the basis of revenue forgone, arguing that they were intended to promote broader economic and social objectives, including industrial growth, improved healthcare delivery and national security.

He, however, recommended stronger monitoring mechanisms to ensure beneficiaries of the incentives deliver the expected outcomes through increased production, lower prices and wider economic benefits.

The Customs boss also told lawmakers that the Service had generated about ₦4.5 trillion as of June 30, 2026, against an annual revenue target of ₦11.04 trillion.

However, the hearing exposed disagreements over Customs’ financial obligations after the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) alleged that the agency had an outstanding operating surplus liability of about ₦8.9 billion based on its 2019 audited accounts.

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Customs officials rejected the claim, insisting that the figures required reconciliation.

The committee also turned its attention to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) after the Fiscal Responsibility Commission alleged that the agency had failed to remit about ₦13.9 billion in operating surplus between 2023 and 2025.

Responding, the Registrar-General of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, acknowledged the outstanding liability but said the Commission had commenced gradual settlement of the amount.

To establish the actual figure, Chairman of the committee, Senator Sani Musa, directed the CAC, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission and the committee’s secretariat to reconcile their records and submit a comprehensive report within two weeks.

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The committee also expressed displeasure over the absence of several invited agencies from the investigative hearing.

Senator Musa warned that the heads of the NCAA, SMEDAN, ITF, FMC Jabi and other defaulting agencies must appear at the next sitting or face sanctions under the Senate Standing Rules.

He stressed that agencies responsible for managing public resources have a constitutional obligation to account for revenues generated on behalf of the Federal Government and comply with legislative oversight.

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