The Federal Government’s Trans-Sahara Highway project linking Calabar through Ebonyi and other states to Abuja has recorded significant progress, with Section One now estimated at 45 per cent completion.

Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, disclosed this during an inspection of the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja highway at Nwedeoga Ndidenyi Ishieke in Ebonyi State. He commended Infiouest International, the contractor handling the project, for what he described as the quality and pace of construction. “Section One is about 40, I will give them 45 per cent in completion. The quality of the concrete pavement is top-notch,” Umahi said.

According to the minister, Section One covers about 125.5 kilometres, beginning from the Ndibe Beach axis and passing through Akpoha, Abomege, Amudo, Onueke, Ezza North and parts of Ebonyi Local Government Areas. He said sections of the route were being dualised in response to increasing economic activities and urban expansion, particularly the 8.9-kilometre Afikpo stretch and a two-kilometre section around Abomege.

Umahi also disclosed that Section Two, extending into Benue and other states, spans about 173.6 kilometres and has a contract value of approximately ₦683 billion, with 30 per cent of the contract sum already paid by the Federal Government. “There is nothing stopping the contractor from working,” he said, stressing that the project would create a major transportation link between the Southeast and other parts of the country.

Beyond road connectivity, the minister said the project would boost the movement of agricultural produce, goods and people while strengthening security along the corridor. He disclosed that security measures would include CCTV surveillance, solar-powered streetlights and specialised highway guard units.

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Umahi further revealed that Infiouest International had employed more than 2,000 people on Section One, creating direct and indirect economic opportunities for residents of communities along the route. Earlier, the Section One Engineer, Mohammed Mustapha, said construction had progressed from Afikpo towards the Mbeke axis. “We are almost at 40 per cent of the project, starting from Afikpo to reach Mbeke here,” he said.

The Section Two Engineer, Rabih Munayyar, said mobilisation and construction activities were being accelerated, including bush clearing and other preparatory works. He also praised Umahi’s technical oversight of the project, saying, “I have never seen anybody so technically professional. Really, I’m impressed.” Acting Controller of the Trans-Sahara Road Project in Ebonyi, Engineer Maxwell Oko, identified the inspection point as kilometre 118+300 of Section Two and said Section One had major structures, including flyovers at Onueke and Ukwachi Junctions.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement for the Southeast, Barrister Choma Nweze, described the highway as an economic intervention capable of transforming communities by improving access to hospitals, markets and other economic centres. “I’m amazed that every road, every place is being opened up. This will give our women the opportunity of getting to hospital without giving birth on the road. It will make our farmers able to bring their food to town to sell,” she said.

During the inspection, Umahi also assessed areas where buildings and other properties could be affected by the road alignment. He said the Federal Government was working with relevant authorities on compensation and resettlement, while commending the Ebonyi State Government for supporting compensation efforts, particularly around the Onueke flyover corridor.

He maintained that the project would reduce travel time, improve security and expand economic opportunities, urging Nigerians and media practitioners to assess the government’s infrastructure performance through verifiable facts, physical project delivery and developments on the ground rather than unconfirmed narratives.

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A political analyst, Dr. Kenneth Anozie, has described Dr. Anyichuks Odii as a potential solution to what he characterised as the challenges of governance in Ebonyi State, ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement titled “Ebonyi 2027; Don’t Cry Anymore,” Anozie declared that the state’s “time of freedom has finally come,” while presenting Odii as a leader with the competence and capacity to transform the state.

According to the analyst, Ebonyi residents have endured what he described as “incompetence and maladministration” under the current APC-led administration, alleging that the situation has caused widespread hardship among the people.

He argued that the 2027 election presents an opportunity for Ebonyi residents to demand a change in leadership, describing Odii as “Godsent” and an answer to the prayers of the people.

Anozie also highlighted areas where he believes Odii could make an impact if elected, including tackling insecurity, improving the education sector, promoting industrialisation and investment, advancing mechanised agriculture, and strengthening healthcare delivery.

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“Ebonyi time of freedom has finally come,” Anozie said, adding that Odii represents the redemption he believes the people of the state are waiting for.

The analyst urged Ebonyi residents not to miss what he described as an opportunity for the state’s transformation, declaring: “Ebonyi: Anyichuks Odii got your back.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dragged President Bola Tinubu before the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to disqualify him from contesting the 2027 presidential election over an alleged forged National Youth Service Corps certificate.Atiku personally appeared at the court registry on Friday to depose to an affidavit supporting the suit instituted against Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission .The suit invokes Sections 137(1)(j), 139(1)(a)(i) and 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.At the centre of the case is Section 137(1)(j), which provides that a person shall not be qualified for election as President if he has presented a forged certificate to INEC.Atiku, the presidential candididate of the African Democratic Congress and the party are asking the court to determine whether Tinubu should be disqualified from the 2027 presidential election over the allegation that he submitted a forged NYSC certificate in connection with his presidential candidacy.According to Atiku’s affidavit, the NYSC discharge certificate allegedly submitted to INEC bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, rather than the President’s name, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”The plaintiffs further allege that the certificate was not obtained by Tinubu and that the same document was submitted in connection with the 2027 presidential election.The allegations have not been judicially established, and the court is now being asked to determine the authenticity and legal implications of the disputed document.Atiku also wants INEC compelled to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted in connection with the 2023 and 2027 presidential elections.The former vice president said he had previously sought certified true copies of the relevant documents from INEC but had not received them before commencing the action.Explaining his decision to personally appear at the court registry, Atiku said the case was too important to be handled casually.“I came here personally because the issues before the court go to the heart of our Constitution and the integrity of the Office of President.“I have therefore put my name, my signature and my oath behind the facts we are presenting to the court. Now it is President Tinubu’s turn to answer them,” he said.Atiku said the case was not intended to be determined through political arguments or social media exchanges, but through evidence presented before the judiciary.“We are not asking Nigerians to decide this matter on social media, and we are not asking INEC to become a court.“We are asking the institution holding the records to produce them and the judiciary to examine the evidence and pronounce on it,” the statement read in part.The ADC presidential candidate also questioned whether the names appearing on the disputed certificate could legitimately be attributed to Tinubu.“If the certificate belongs to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, let that be established before the court. If ‘Tinubu Bola Adekunle’ and ‘Bola Ahmed Tinubu’ are one and the same person for the purpose of that certificate, let the evidence establish it,” he added.The suit also challenges provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 which Atiku and the ADC contend restrict the ability of candidates or political parties to challenge the qualification of presidential candidates at the pre-election stage.
They further argue that the legislation cannot prevent the enforcement of constitutional provisions concerning presidential qualification.Their position is that where an Act of the National Assembly conflicts with the Constitution, the Constitution must prevail.“This case therefore raises a fundamental question for our democracy.“Can an Act of the National Assembly be used as a shield against an express provision of the Constitution? Can we write into ordinary legislation an escape route from a constitutional standard applicable to everyone seeking the presidency? Our position is that the Constitution remains supreme,” he argued.The plaintiffs are consequently asking the Federal High Court to determine whether the statutory restrictions complained of can prevent them from invoking Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution.Among the reliefs sought is an order disqualifying Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election if the allegations against them are established.Atiku argued that the issue of certificate authenticity should be subject to the same standard applicable to ordinary Nigerians.“The presidency is not an immunity certificate against constitutional scrutiny,” he said.He also called on INEC to demonstrate its neutrality by producing the relevant electoral records.“INEC is holding the documents. The court has the jurisdiction to examine the issues. President Tinubu has the opportunity to defend himself. That is the constitutional process, and nobody should be afraid of it,” Atiku said.He added that Nigerians should know the eligibility of presidential candidates before voting.“The 2027 election must begin with clarity about the qualification of those seeking the presidency. Nigerians should not be asked to vote first and investigate later,” he further saidCounsel to the plaintiffs, Edwin Inegedu, SAN, and Joseph Onu Silas, expressed confidence in the case.Silas said the legal team had reviewed the relevant law and presented its arguments before the court, adding that they were prepared to respond to the defendants’ case once they were served.“We are confident that justice will prevail. This case presents an important opportunity to further develop Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence,” he said.The legal challenge adds another potentially significant dispute to the political contest ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with Atiku seeking to place Tinubu’s qualification and the handling of his electoral records directly before the judiciary.The case will now put the spotlight on the disputed NYSC document, INEC’s custody of the relevant nomination records, and the constitutional limits of legislation governing pre-election challenges.Atiku said the case was ultimately about equal application of the law.“Nobody is above the Constitution, not Atiku Abubakar, not Bola Tinubu, and certainly not the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement added.
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A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and lawyer, Kalu Kalu, has petitioned the European Union Commission against President Bola Tinubu over alleged certificate forgery and violation of Nigeria’s constitutional order.

Submitting the petition in Brussels on Friday, Kalu accused Tinubu of presenting forged academic credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He further alleged that the president failed to disclose his primary and secondary school history, in breach of Section 137 of the 1999 Constitution.

Kalu stated:

“President Bola Tinubu has suspended the constitutional order in Nigeria because of his forged academic credentials submitted to INEC for the 2027 general elections. Section 137 clearly says that if you present a false certificate to INEC, you are not qualified to run.”

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He argued that Tinubu’s alleged actions amounted to subversion of Nigeria’s constitutional provisions, claiming the president had imposed himself on the country by capturing political power.

The petition comes amid growing controversy over Tinubu’s academic records, with opposition figures insisting that the matter undermines Nigeria’s democratic process.

The MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has called for sustained partnership and support of customers and residents to improve electricity service delivery.

The Managing Director of MainPower, Dr Ernest Mupwaya, made the appeal on Friday in an opening address at a two-day Customers’ Engagement and On-the-Spot Complaint Resolutions Exercise in Nsukka, Enugu State.

Represented by the the Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Ikenna Akabogu, the managing director said that the engagement was part of the
company’s strategy to regularly interface with customers.

Mupwaya said that the engagement was meant to keep customers abreast of developments in its operations, listen to their concerns and obtain feedback on its service delivery.

According to him, electricity distribution is ultimately about the people and businesses the company serves.

He said, “As part of our Business Transformation Plan (BTP), MainPower has made a deliberate decision to engage our customers every quarter, either physically or through online platforms.

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“We do not want to engage customers only when there is a complaint or crisis. Regular dialogue must become part of the way we do business.

“The objective of the engagement is to hear first-hand your concerns and expectations, provide an onsite one-stop shop for resolving lingering issues, and update you on our plans for improving electricity supply and service delivery.”

The MainPower boss said that the engagement would build a stronger relationship between the company and its customers through communication, mutual accountability, trust and measurable improvements in service delivery

He said the company had a responsibility to provide reliable electricity supply, accurate billing and responsive customer service, while customers also had a responsibility to pay their electricity bills promptly.

Mupwaya explained that revenue generated from electricity consumption enables the company to maintain transformers, replace damaged equipment and invest in improving power supply.

“The company’s ambition is to build a customer-focused, professionally managed and technology-driven organisation, with strategic priorities that include improving supply reliability, accelerating metering, strengthening the distribution network, improving customer service, reducing losses and deploying technology.”

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On metering, Mupwaya said MainPower was targeting 100 per cent metering of its customers by 2027, stressing the company’s desired to ensure that every customer had an appropriate meter and pays only for electricity actually consumed.

In his remarks, the Chief Technical Officer, Mr Chimezie Chukwu, highlighted some of the company’s initiatives aimed at improving the quality and reliability of electricity supply to customers.

Chukwu disclosed plans for the installation of an additional 15MVA power transformer to boost supply and support the industrialisation of Nsukka and its general area.

He stressed on the Quick Response Team (QRT), introduced by the company to facilitate the prompt resolution of faults.

He urged customers to take advantage of the initiative by contacting the dedicated line or the company’s call centre whenever they experience supply-related challenges so they can be tracked and monitored.

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The Head of Health, Safety and Environment, Dr. Francis Iwu, sensitised customers on unsafe acts and conditions prevalent within the electricity network, emphasising the need for residents to prioritise safety.

Iwu expressed concern over what he described as the increasing violation of power-line rights of way in Nsukka, warning that the practice posed serious risks to residents.