Politics
2027: Presidency lists on-going projects in N’West, dismisses marginalisation claims
The rebuttal was made on Monday at a pre-tour media briefing in Abuja, convened by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors ahead of a nationwide project showcase tour that will begin in Kaduna and other North West states.
The presidency listed projects ongoing in the region, including a $2 billion standard-gauge rail project linking Kano to Maradi in the Niger Republic, which, it said, is now 60 per cent complete.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties, Tunde Rahman, who also serves as the RHA’s Director of Media and Publicity, said the visit was designed specifically to counter the perception that the President had not kept faith with the region.
Rahman said, “A lot of people are saying that the President has not kept his promise with the North. This is not correct.
“You will see for yourselves the projects put in place by Mr President. He started in the North in the area of works, road networks, health facilities that have been built and transportation, like the rail system from Kano down to Maradi.”
Rahman noted that the tour was being mounted under the auspices of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, which he described as the principal vehicle for the President’s re-election campaign.
He explained, “We are not reinventing the wheel. We are putting together all the achievements of Mr President and presenting them to the whole of Nigeria so that Nigerians can see that a lot has been done in the last three years.”
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who spoke earlier at the briefing, said the tour was conceived as a direct response to an information gap that had allowed scepticism about the administration’s performance to flourish.
He said, “If we don’t blow our trumpet, no one will blow it for us.
“We are carrying the media along so they can see for themselves the many projects being done across the country, projects that have a direct impact on our people.
“Someone posted about a completed road on social media and said, ‘I didn’t know such a project existed.’ That is why we are doing this.”
The briefing also featured a technical presentation on the state of the railway sector by the Director of Rail Transport Service at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr Finbarr Zirra.
The official said the North West was emerging as the geographic centrepiece of a broader national rail integration programme under Tinubu.
Zirra traced the origins of Nigeria’s railway crisis to the colonial era, noting that the network built by the British was never designed for internal development.
“The plan at that time did not intend to integrate us or make our resources available for national development,” he said, adding, “Towards the 1970s, the railway sector degenerated to a point where government investment declined and was essentially replaced by road infrastructure.”
He said a 25-year Railway Master Plan, adopted in 2002, set out to rehabilitate, modernise and position the sector for long-term sustainability, adding that within the last three to four years, the current administration had achieved substantial progress along those lines.
“The part to Kano has been completed,” he confirmed, adding that the link from Kaduna to Abuja was expected to be operational by the end of the year.
The Kano-Katsina-Maradi extension, approximately 400 kilometres of new standard gauge rail stretching from Kano through Katsina to Jibia before crossing 40 kilometres into the Niger Republic, is the single largest ongoing rail investment in the North West.
Zirra revealed that the completion was at 60 per cent, with the earthworks, the most labour-intensive phase, substantially underway.
He said once the earthworks were accomplished, mechanised laying would accelerate progress significantly.
A branch line from Kano to Dutse, covering approximately 100 kilometres, is also under construction as part of the same package, he said.
“The total length of this package is about 400 kilometres, and work is progressing. By the end of the year, Kano to Katsina is expected to be completed,” Zirra said.
He noted the strategic importance of Kano to the entire rail programme, adding that upon completion, the city will serve as a multi-modal hub where four separate rail lines converge.
They include the Lagos-Kano main line, the Kano-Maradi international line, the Kano-Katsina branch and the Kano-Dutse line.
He said Kano station, when finished, would be the largest in the country by design and function.
He explained, “One movement of a fully loaded train will take approximately 30 trucks off the road.
“If we are able to do that consistently, the impact on road maintenance, logistics costs and the cost of goods will be enormous.
“The multiplier effect of a functional rail corridor is felt in every other sector.”
He said a high-speed rail programme, privately funded at an estimated N200bn, is also in the proposal pipeline and will cover Lagos-Kano, and a separate Lagos-Port Harcourt route.
Monday’s briefing comes days after the Renewed Hope Ambassadors unveiled its website and digital repository containing key milestones of the Tinubu administration.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the RHA, promised that the website would serve as a verified information hub to deepen public understanding of the administration’s reform programme and actively counter the spread of misinformation.
The Oyo State Government has denied reports claiming it paid ransom to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted by bandits in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the allegation as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said the claim was “far from the truth” and accused “irresponsible bloggers” of deliberately spreading misinformation to confuse the public.
“Although both the Oyo State and Federal Governments have been making concerted efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted children and their teachers, no ransom has been paid to the bandits, either directly or indirectly,” Oyelade stated.
He urged residents to disregard the reports and rely only on information released through official government channels.
The commissioner added that the Oyo State Government is working closely with security agencies to ensure the safe release of the abductees and bring the incident to a successful conclusion.
The pupils and teachers were abducted on May 15 when armed bandits attacked three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esienle communities of Oriire Local Government Area. The coordinated attack also claimed the life of a teacher.
The victims have remained in captivity since the attack, while the Oyo State Government, the Federal Government, and security agencies continue efforts to secure their freedom.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has dismissed reports that aggrieved aspirants who lost the party’s primary elections are plotting to work against its candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Following the conclusion of the party’s primaries a few weeks ago, reports had alleged that some unsuccessful aspirants were considering supporting candidates of other political parties in protest, with the aim of undermining APGA’s chances at the polls.
However, APGA National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, described the claims as false, insisting that the party remains united after a reconciliation meeting convened by Governor Charles Soludo.
“I am hearing this from you. As a party, we have not received any report of such a plot. Let me state clearly that all the aspirants have resolved to work for the success of the party in the 2027 general elections,” Opara said.
He explained that during the meeting held at the Light House in Awka, aspirants and candidates openly discussed issues arising from the primaries, stressing that none of the participants accused the party of conducting an unfair or non-transparent process.
“Everyone expressed their views about the primary elections. No one alleged that the process lacked transparency. The only concern expressed was that each aspirant had hoped to emerge victorious.
“At the end of the meeting, every misunderstanding, anxiety and misgiving surrounding the primaries was resolved, and the party remains one united family,” he added.
Opara also warned opposition parties against what he described as deliberate attempts to spread falsehoods and create disaffection within APGA.
He cautioned individuals engaging in cyberbullying and name-dropping for political purposes to desist, warning that the party would not hesitate to pursue legal action against anyone found defaming its members.
“This is nothing but cheap blackmail by the opposition. They should be mindful of the legal consequences of cyberbullying and name-dropping. We urge our party faithful and the general public to disregard these spurious reports,” he said.
This version improves grammar, flow, attribution, and readability while preserving the substance of the original report.
Former Minister Uche Nnaji
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a court order permitting it to detain former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, for an initial 14 days as investigations into alleged certificate forgery continue.
The remand order followed Nnaji’s arrest on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly after he arrived from Enugu aboard a chartered flight.
According to an official of the anti-graft agency, the court-approved remand will enable investigators to interrogate the former minister over the allegations, with the possibility of seeking an extension should further investigation require additional time.
Nnaji was apprehended following the execution of a bench warrant earlier issued by the Federal High Court after he allegedly failed to honour several invitations extended by the commission.
The ICPC subsequently confirmed the arrest in an official statement signed by its spokesperson, John Odey, stating that the former minister is in the commission’s custody as investigations continue into allegations bordering on the forgery of academic credentials and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate allegedly submitted during his ministerial screening process.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Despite the Federal High Court pronouncement against the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC ) in Anambra state, the National Working Committee( NWC) of the party has issued nomination forms to candidates of the National and state Assemblies of the party .
Recall that the Federal High Court Abuja had ruled that Sen Emma Anosike is not the Chairman of the party; a judgement that is unsettling party in the area which the plaintiffs denied knowledge of the suit insisting that it is a kangaroo pronouncement.
The affected state executive members, Bright Osemeka, Mrs Ify Chinwoko Nzekwe and Amaechi Chinweze had contended that they never filed any action challenging the leadership of Sen Emma Anosike adding that they remain loyal to the Anosike led executive.
According to the Deputy National Organizing Secretary of the party Mr Emeka Okafor ;
“The Federal High Court pronounent did not mention the nominated candidates of the party for the National and state Assembly elections and we have issued nomination forms to the candidates”
“Again the matter neither joined the nominated candidates nor had any legal position on the primary elections of the party in Anambra state hence the nominated candidates remain our candidates for Anambra state ” he said.
Recall that Sen Emma Anosike as at the period of the primary elections was the Chairman of the party an exercise that was adjudged peaceful and transparent by the National Working Committee of the party and the Election Committee sent to the state by the Leadership of the party in Abuja .
Similarly, the expelled members of the party did not take part in the election following the suit filed by them against the party in Anambra state.
They were suspended by the party because the party found out that they did not explore the laid down avenues of conflict or dispute resolutions before heading to the Court which the party stated that it is against the constitution of the party which also stipulates outright expulsion.
Meanwhile it is not clear if the said Chairman of the party who the Court endorsed has taken over the party Secretarate in Awka , nor has he convened any meeting of the party; a development that has deepened the unsettled state of affairs of the party .
It is however gathered that sustained legal battle is on in Abuja over the said judgement as the crisis lasts .
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Structures belonging the trio of People’s Democratic Party PDP, All Progressives Congress APC and Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC have been collapsed into the candidacy of Chief Chukwudi Oli of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Dunukofia – Njikoka -Ananocha Federal Constituency.
The development followed the adoption of his candidacy by a group made up of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Njikoka LGA, which is part of federal constituency.
Members of the group declared their support for Oli during a consultative meeting they held with the APGA House of Representatives candidate’s campaign organisation held at Abagana yesterday.
Members of the campaign organisation which is headed by a former chairman of Njikoka LGA as the Director-general (DG), Hon. George Ozor present at the meeting received the three structures into the fold of the organization.
In their separate speeches on behalf of members of the group, the leader, Ozo Ejiamatu, and , chairman, Mr. Onyenechi Ezeaso stated that they decided to throw their support behind Oli because of his proven passion and commitment toward the progress of the various communities within the federal constituency, and, humanity at large.
”In this our group, some of us are members of the PDP, APC, NDC, and, other political parties.
”But we decided to come together, to support you because we are convinced that by supporting you, we are working for ourselves because we know that you are going to work for the progress of DNA (Dunukofia/Njikoka/ Anaocha federal constituency) when you get to the House of Representatives.
”We don’t want to allow selfish politicians who have been deceiving our people to win election in this federal constituency, again, because they have deceived us enough “, Ejiamatu stated further.
Also, in his speech, Ezeaso made it clear that the group was not an APGA political group, adding that the support of the members for the party’s House of Representatives candidate in the federal constituency did not mean that the members of his group have adopted all APGA candidates.
Expressing gratitude to members of the group for trusting him, Oli pledged that he would not disappoint them if elected.
He said that his political mantra was anchored on “accountability, transparency, togetherness, and, touching lives”.
He vowed that if elected into the House of Representatives he would not use his position to pursue personal gains, but, would deploy his capacity and influence to the development of the federal constituency while awaiting for the divine reward.Stating that he would be guided by the philosophy of his mentor, the state-born popular oil mongul and philanthropist, Prince Arthur Eze, Oli pledged that when elected the ordinary people in the federal constituency would breath fresh air, and, life made worth living for them.
Chairman of the campaign organisation, Chief Ozor, and, chairman of APGA in Njikoka LGA, Hon. Chinedu Anakwe eulogised members of the group for the confidence they reposed in Oli.
”We know that this federal constituency election will be one of the toughest elections in Anambra state, but, because we know the capacity of your leader, Ozo Ejiamatu, and, some of you we have no doubt that the fight has been made a lot easier and our victory assured”, Ozor stated.
The APGA chairman in Njikoka described the support of members of the group as a source of great courage, and, moral boost for the party and the House of Representatives candidate, and, indeed, other candidates of the party in the area, including for the senate , Hon Dozie Nwankwo.
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