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Wike Criticizes Obi, Defends Governor Okpebholo’s Demand for Notification

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11 months ago

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…Says Protocol, Not Ego, Is at Stake

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has come out in strong support of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, backing his stance that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, should have informed him before visiting the state.

Speaking at the commissioning of the New Edo Line project in Benin City, Wike criticized Obi for failing to notify Governor Okpebholo ahead of his visit. He pointed out that during his own tenure as governor, Obi consistently followed due process by seeking clearance before entering Rivers State.

“Peter Obi never came to Rivers without informing me. That’s the proper protocol,” Wike stated. “You don’t just enter another governor’s territory unannounced, especially as a major political figure.”

Wike emphasized that the issue goes beyond politics or personal ego. Instead, he framed it as a matter of administrative courtesy and security coordination, particularly given Obi’s position as a leading opposition voice under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.

He argued that any political visit by a figure of Obi’s stature demands prior notice to ensure appropriate security and logistical arrangements.

“If anything were to happen while he’s in Edo and the governor is unaware, the blame falls on the state government. That’s why protocol exists — to protect everyone involved,” Wike asserted.

He concluded by insisting that Governor Okpebholo was right to demand such notification, calling it a standard and necessary practice in governance.

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INEC set to introduce downloadable PVCs, full online voter registration

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41 minutes ago

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July 1, 2026

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will introduce downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for voters who have lost or damaged their original cards as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Amupitan explained that the downloadable PVC option would only be available to voters who had previously collected their physical PVCs but later lost or damaged them. He clarified that the initiative would not apply to first-time registrants who had never obtained a physical card.

According to him, eligible voters must report the loss or damage of their PVCs to INEC at least 90 days before an election to enable the commission to process the replacement.

The INEC Chairman also announced that the commission plans to pilot the downloadable PVC technology during the Osun State off-cycle governorship election scheduled for August.

He further revealed that INEC was finalising work on a new technology that would enable eligible Nigerians to complete voter registration entirely online without visiting INEC offices for physical biometric capture.

Amupitan said the online registration platform would be tested in the coming days once it receives the commission’s approval.

He noted that the technological innovations are aimed at expanding access to voter registration, reducing disenfranchisement, and making the electoral process more convenient for eligible citizens.

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‘It’s not only akara,’ Remi Tinubu defends comments, says FG also supports tomato, pepper sellers

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1 day ago

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June 30, 2026

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Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, has pushed back against criticism of her recent comments on small-scale enterprises, clarifying that the Federal Government’s empowerment initiatives target a wide range of petty traders beyond akara sellers.
Speaking on Monday during the inauguration of the newly constructed Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall at the Emir of Hadejia’s Palace in Jigawa State, Tinubu said the government remains committed to supporting small businesses despite the backlash.
Her remarks follow widespread social media criticism after she highlighted businesses such as akara (bean cakes), roasted corn, and kuli-kuli. Many Nigerians accused her of downplaying the severity of the country’s economic challenges.
Addressing the controversy directly, the First Lady announced that the Federal Government had donated N100 million to the Jigawa State Government to empower 2,000 petty traders.
“Because of the atmosphere, what is going on, I’ve told Her Excellency that we’ve already given, donated about 100 million to her to use to empower 2,000 petty traders,” she said.
“And I know they’ve been talking that I said akara. It’s not only akara, we also have tomato sellers. We have boole [roasted plantain], and those also selling pepper, selling vegetables for us in the market. We will continue to empower them and add to their resources so that their trade can really be sustainable. So that is what we are doing,” Tinubu added.
According to her, each beneficiary will receive N50,000 to recapitalise their businesses.
“We continue to carry the capacity. We have the amount of 2,000 women who are already in small businesses. They will recapitalise their businesses with the N50,000 each. We’ve already given the N100 million,” she stated.
Tinubu insisted that negative reactions would not stop the government’s efforts.
“I know all those people who are affected, they do appreciate it. And we are not intimidated by all those wrong reports. But we are forging ahead and making sure that our people, you know, are well cared for,” she said.
The First Lady also used the occasion to highlight Nigeria’s abundant natural resources, referencing an orange orchard she visited in Benue State. She urged young Nigerians to look beyond oil for economic opportunities.
“Nigeria is a really blessed country. I’ve been travelling, and I pray that our young people will see the resources we have in this nation. We have not even gone to explore yet because we are thinking it’s oil. But there are so many things,” she remarked.
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Tinubu Approves 27 Major Road Projects Worth Over N3.9 Trillion Across 15 States

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1 day ago

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June 30, 2026

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President Bola Tinubu has given the green light to 27 significant road infrastructure projects valued at more than N3.9 trillion, spanning 15 states, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to revamp Nigeria’s road network.
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, disclosed the approvals on Monday while addressing journalists following the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The projects cover Adamawa, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe states.
One of the flagship approvals is the re-award of the 409-kilometre dual carriageway project in Niger State under the tax credit scheme to businessman Aliko Dangote at a cost of N1.8 trillion.
Umahi highlighted several other key projects approved by the council:
– N276 billion for the dualisation of the Ilorin-Ogbomoso Road
– N265 billion for the reconstruction of the Iseyin-Eruwa-Agbesi Road linking Oyo and Kwara states
– N217 billion for the dualisation of the old alignment from Ijaye through the Federal Government College to Ilorin Road, with a spur to Akinmorin
– N116 billion for the 21-kilometre Abakaliki-Afikpo Road in Ebonyi State
Additional approvals include N110 billion for the Ogbomoso-Oko-Illupu Road in Oyo and Osun states; N104 billion for the rehabilitation of Sections One and Two of the Ilorin-Omorin-Ebe-Kabba-Obajana Road in Kwara and Kogi states; N98 billion for the 30-kilometre Idi-Araba-Ayede-Olodo Road in Oyo State; and N92 billion for the rehabilitation of the Baban-Lamba-Sharan Phase Two Road in Plateau State.
The minister further announced N86 billion each for the reconstruction of the Enugu-Abakaliki Road (with a flyover) and the Adikpo-Ajayi-Tese-Akpa-Otukpo Road traversing Benue and Cross River states.
Other notable projects approved include:
– N83 billion for the Jimeta-Mayo Belwa Road in Adamawa State
– N82 billion for the rehabilitation of Igbeti Road in Oyo State
– N74 billion for the Igbeti-Soro-Kishi Road in Oyo State
– N71 billion for the 52-kilometre Dabban-Makina Road in Niger State
– N62.99 billion for the Tungo-Karamti Road with five bridges connecting Adamawa and Taraba states
Smaller but critical interventions approved include N58 billion for the rehabilitation of the Yola-Hong-Mubi Road Phase Two; N46 billion for the Amasiri-Okporojo Road; N34 billion for the 18-kilometre Ikere-Ekiti-Ijare Road linking Ekiti and Ondo states; N26 billion for a new flyover on the ongoing Trans-Sahara Road; N24.7 billion for the rehabilitation of the Kabba-Ifaki-Ado Ekiti Road linking Kogi and Ekiti states; and N21 billion for a flyover at Oko-Olowo Junction in Kwara State.
Additional projects approved are the N15.7 billion Pacific Road linking Igbe Laara to Ikorodu in Lagos State; N15.5 billion for the 13-kilometre Badeku-Jaiye Road in Oyo State; N15.246 billion for Phase Two of the Yola-Fufore-Gurin Road in Adamawa State; and N15 billion as augmentation for the 32.2-kilometre Gashua Road project in Yobe State.
On public-private partnership initiatives, the council approved the full business case for the operation and maintenance concession of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and directed the immediate reconstruction of failed sections along the Ibadan axis using concrete pavement.
Umahi also announced a major milestone on the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway, stating that the first 118-kilometre section, valued at N137 billion, has been successfully completed.
The approvals underscore the Tinubu administration’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit through large-scale road projects aimed at improving connectivity, boosting economic activities, and enhancing safety across the federation.
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