News
Abuja rent is determined by market forces-Wike
Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has explained the inability of government to force landlords in the territory to bring down the cost of rent, which he said is market-driven.
Noting that such an order could be counterproductive and limit investments in real estate, the minister said the immediate priority of his administration is to focus on other areas of human development that would benefit everyone and ultimately lead to a crash in the overall cost of living.
The minister spoke on Saturday when he inspected the Zeberced Quarry in Kubwa, Abuja, which he described as the largest in West Africa.
His words: “No government puts a cap as regards the cost of rent. It is the market forces. You are aware that everything has actually increased because of costs. The man who built the house didn’t build that he would not make profit at the end of the day. I don’t agree with people always complaining about rent increases, there are increases in everything today, so rent should not be singled out. Do you want us to make a law and say that a 2-bed room flat should not be more than N50,000 or N100,000, for example? I don’t think you are encouraging investors. That is not our major problem now”, he stated.
Speaking on his impression of the quarry, Wike said with what he saw on ground, the cost of construction ought not to be very expensive.
“I have not been here before, but I have taken the opportunity to look at the environment and see what they are doing. That shows that ordinarily, the cost of construction ought not to be very expensive, particularly in the FCT.
“Apart from equipment that is being imported, that is used for this quarry, the raw material is available here, and I wonder why contractors should be talking about cost of aggregates as if these are imported. These are not imported, they are made here.
“So I really want to encourage the company. It is really amazing that we have this type of manufacturing going on here. This is the same company that is trying to build the industrial park in Idu, and we are going to give them all the necessary support. Just yesterday, I sent out a letter to the Ministry of Finance to get some tax credit to enable them to carry out the other one-carrier way to make it a double carriage,” he stated.
News
Gunmen abduct Nigerian Professor, Demand N10m Ransom
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted Professor John Ebeh, a senior lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, Kogi State.
The assailants are reportedly demanding a N10 million ransom for his release.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the attackers invaded the professor’s residence in Agbeji, a suburb of Anyigba, in Dekina Local Government Area, at about 7 p.m. on Thursday.
According to a neighbor who identified himself as Akpai, “The hoodlums operated in a commando manner. It was swift. We noticed a car trailing him furiously; we took it as one of his friends or colleagues, not until we started hearing gunshots around his gate.”
A family source disclosed that the professor was abducted just as he was about to enter his compound.
“Professor Ebeh was almost at the gate of his house at Agbeji, on his way from the town when the incident happened.
“He had even given out a signal to his people to open the gate of his house when some people emerged suddenly from their hideout and started shooting sporadically.
“Amidst the confusion, someone drove in furiously and blocked his car.
“Some masked people alighted from the vehicle and whisked him away at gunpoint.
“His abductors called the family on Friday night, demanding N10 million,” the source recounted.
University officials have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
However, one of Professor Ebeh’s colleagues expressed shock at the development, saying, “The kidnapping (of the professor) came to us as a shock. I have just visited his family to sympathize with them.”
News
Sad: Ondo SSG Is Dead
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Tayo Oluwatuyi, on Saturday died in an auto crash.
The SSG died in the crash which occurred while he was traveling from Akure, Ondo State capital, to Ibadan in Oyo State.
Confirming the incident, Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Wale Akinlosotu, stated that Oluwatuyi was hospitalised before he gave up the ghost.
“Hon. Oluwatuyi was a dedicated public servant whose unwavering commitment to administrative coordination, policy advisory, and implementation had a significant impact on Ondo State.
“Further details regarding memorial arrangements will be shared as they become available,” he added.
News
Mohamed Salah confirms this season as his last season at Liverpool
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Liverpool’s talisman, Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly, popularly known as Mohamed Salah, has confirmed that the 2024–2025 football season will be his last season donning the shirts of Liverpool.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Mo Salah revealed that he is eager to win this year’s English Premier League title for the Reds to sign off his eight-year stay with the Merseyside based club.
Salah reflected on Liverpool’s previous Premier League triumph in the 2019-2020 season, noting that they were unable to celebrate it as they had hoped. Salah stated that he is determined to help the team win the title this year and celebrate in a manner worthy of their remarkable achievement.
He reflected on Liverpool’s previous Premier League triumph, noting that they were unable to celebrate it as they had hoped. Salah stated that he is determined to help the team win the title this year and celebrate in a manner worthy of their remarkable achievement.
“It’s probably because we didn’t celebrate the one we won in the way we wanted and also, coming back here too, it’s my last year in the club so you want to do something special for the city.
“We waited for that title for 30 years or so. So, to win it and it was the pandemic at that time, we didn’t really have time to celebrate it in the right way. It’s not a nice thing to do, so hopefully we can do it this year.”
“I really want to win the Premier League this season as it’s my last year at the club. I want to give something special to the City.” He said.
Mohamed Salah’s contract with Liverpool is set to expire at the end of the current season. He explained that although his agent, Ramy Abbas, and Liverpool are yet to reach any conclusive decision regarding a contract renewal, he remains focused and is not distracted by the off-field uncertainty.
“We are far away from any progress so we just need to wait and see.
“The thing in my head is ‘OK, if it’s my last six months, or last year, what do you want to see in the future? Do you want to look back and say I was concerned about the contract or I was stressed’ or do you just want to say ‘OK, I had an unbelievable season’.
“That’s in my head now. All the time now. If I feel that kind of distraction, I remind myself ‘You want to look back and you had an unbelievable season’. So that’s what I want to do.” He explained.
He has been in electric form this term, scoring 17 goals in 18 league games, while also registering 13 assists. He has won 9 trophies with Liverpool which includes 1 EPL title, 1 FA Cup, 2 EFL Cups, 1 FA Community Shield, 1 UEFA Champions League title, 1 UEFA Super Cup and 1 FIFA Club World Cup.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
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