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Alausa spoke in Abuja on Tuesday while inaugurating the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) ministerial implementation and monitoring committee for smart schools, bilingual schools and alternative schools.

He said the committee was established to ensure that educational infrastructure funded with public resources is completed, handed over to state governments and opened for learning.

According to the minister, recent implementation reports show that although many UBEC-funded projects have reached advanced stages of construction, several remain unfinished, while others that have been completed are yet to be handed over or integrated into state education systems.

He said the situation has denied thousands of Nigerian children access to learning opportunities.

“Every day a completed school remains locked represents lost opportunities for thousands of Nigerian children,” Alausa said.

“Every abandoned project represents resources that are not yielding their intended educational value, and every delay undermines the confidence of our citizens in government’s ability to deliver.”

The minister said the committee’s success would not be measured by the number of meetings it holds or reports it produces, but by the number of schools that become operational.

“It will be measured by one fundamental question: How many schools have become operational and are educating Nigerian children?” he said.

Alausa said members of the committee had been tasked with ensuring the completion of ongoing projects, installation of furniture and equipment, provision of electricity, water and internet connectivity, deployment of teachers and enrolment of pupils.

He urged the committee to work closely with UBEC, state governments, state universal basic education boards (SUBEBs) and contractors to ensure every project delivers value.

The minister said the federal government is shifting its focus from measuring project completion to assessing actual learning outcomes.

“The Federal Ministry of Education is not only interested in measuring outputs but equally in measuring outcomes. Government exists to deliver results,” he said.

Alausa described smart schools, bilingual schools and alternative schools as some of the most innovative interventions introduced to improve basic education in Nigeria.

According to him, smart schools are designed to equip learners with digital skills, bilingual schools promote linguistic inclusion and national integration, while alternative schools provide education for vulnerable children, including girls and out-of-school children.

He assured Nigerians that no education project funded with public resources would be allowed to remain abandoned or idle under the current administration.

“Every classroom will count. Every school will function. Every investment will deliver value. Every Nigerian child deserves nothing less,” the minister said.

The post Alausa: Era of locked, idle UBEC schools must end first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

In a statement on Monday, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND director of strategic communications, said the agency is worried over arbitrary increases in tuition and other institutional charges by some institutions, warning that such actions undermine the objectives of the federal government’s student loan scheme.

Oseyemi said the fund had received reports of affected students and is taking steps to address the situation.

“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has noted with concern reports of some tertiary institutions delaying or refusing to refund students whose tuition fees had already been paid before NELFUND disbursements, as well as arbitrary increases in tuition and other institutional charges,” the statement reads.

She noted that the student loan scheme, introduced under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, was established to remove financial barriers to higher education and should not become an avenue for imposing additional burdens on students.

According to her, NELFUND is engaging the affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure that eligible students receive refunds where due and that institutional charges remain fair and transparent.

She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of students and maintaining the integrity of the student loan scheme, describing it as a landmark national intervention.

The post NELFUND condemns institutions withholding students’ tuition refunds, arbitrary fee hikes first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

For decades, the south-east geopolitical zone of Nigeria has worn the heavy cloak of marginalisation. It has been a narrative repeated in town hall meetings, on radio call-in programmes, and in the corridors of power.

The region that gave Nigeria its first indigenous President, its most renowned industrialists, and some of its finest intellectuals has, paradoxically, often complained of being left behind in the distribution of national infrastructure. Roads crumbled.

Bridges collapsed. Federal projects were inaugurated with fanfare, only to be abandoned to weeds and neglect. The cry was always the same: “We are not part of the centre.”

But something has changed. Over five days in June 2026, from the rocky terrain of Ebonyi to the bustling city of Enugu, from the farmlands of Abia to the commercial hubs of Anambra and Imo, the renewed hope media tour of the south-east laid bare a new reality. What the delegation of over 50 editors, journalists, and presidential aides witnessed was not a region waiting for development.

It was a region where development had already arrived—on concrete pavements, in smart schools, through free housing, and across newly constructed flyovers.

The narrative of neglect is no longer tenable. And the man at the centre of this transformation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has, through his renewed hope agenda, done what many thought impossible: he has begun to heal a wound that had festered for generations.

THE ARCHITETURE OF RENEWAL: HOW SUBSIDY REMOVAL UNLOCKED THE SOUTH-EAST

To understand the scale of what is happening in the South-East, one must first understand the fiscal revolution that made it possible. Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state, during the tour, was characteristically blunt. He stated that increased financial support to subnational governments under President Tinubu’s administration has been responsible for the remarkable infrastructure development in the state.

“It would have been impossible, to say the least, for us as a state to have done things at a scale we did without some of the bold and courageous policies of Mr. President,” he declared. “First of all, what the policies of Mr. President did for subnationals is largely to free up resources”.

This is the core of the renewed hope agenda: a belief that economic growth does not come from the top down, but from the periphery upward. President Tinubu has been intentional about strengthening the periphery, both in terms of responsibility and finance.

The removal of the fuel subsidy, the unification of exchange rates, tax reforms, and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) have collectively created a fiscal environment where states can dream big.

The evidence is unmistakable. Before these reforms, many states struggled to pay salaries and had little left for capital expenditure.

Today, as Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, observed in Ebonyi, “The state is conceiving projects it would never have thought of before. It is doing those projects without having to go to the bank to borrow money”.

This is not rhetoric. This is the tangible result of a federal government that has chosen to empower its subnational units rather than suffocate them.

EBONYI: FROM THE SAFEST TO THE MOST AMBITIOUS

The tour began in Ebonyi state, and what the delegation found was nothing short of extraordinary. Governor Francis Nwifuru has declared his state the safest in Nigeria, with no reported kidnapping cases since he assumed office. But safety, it turns out, is only the foundation. On top of it, Nwifuru has built an ambitious programme of infrastructure development that rivals anything seen in the region.

The federal government’s Trans-Saharan Superhighway, a colonial-era dream long forgotten, is now being brought to life under the Tinubu administration. Minister of works, Senator Dave Umahi, himself a former governor of Ebonyi, described the project as strategic to the south-east, south-south, and parts of the north-central region.

Section One, initially 118 kilometres, has been extended to 123.6 kilometres with a contract sum of N45 billion, and dualisation works are ongoing. Section two, running from the Aboadi border through Benue and Kogi to Nasarawa, has been awarded at N668 billion.

The project has reached about 28 percent completion in some areas, with work continuing even during the rainy season, thanks to President Tinubu’s adoption of concrete road technology.

The Onueke Flyover, a N35 billion federal project designed to decongest the Trans-Saharan highway, stands as a testament to the scale of federal investment in the region. Standing 90 metres high and flanked by a 2.2-kilometre road on both sides, it is not just infrastructure; it is a statement.

But the state’s ambition extends beyond federal projects. The 22-kilometre Izeagu-Azulu rural road, connecting four communities with an eight-inch concrete pavement, exemplifies the state government’s commitment to rural connectivity.

The conversion of an abandoned trade centre into a multi-storey modern hotel, the construction of the Ebonyi State University of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering Science, and the free housing estates for civil servants all point to a government that is using its increased federal allocations to dream big. As Onanuga put it, “Ebonyi state, in particular, is dreaming big and doing big things”.

ENUGU: CONNECTING THE DOTS TO A $30 BILLION ECONOMY 

If Ebonyi represents ambition, Enugu represents audacity. Governor Peter Mbah has set a target to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion by 2031. To achieve this, he is connecting the dots across multiple sectors—aviation, tourism, security, education, healthcare, and urban development.

The concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport is a critical piece of this puzzle. This is the first airport in Nigeria’s history to be successfully concessioned.

The Enugu state government has also established Enugu Air, with six aircraft acquired in phase one, to ensure consistent airlift capacity independent of third-party schedules. The target is to bring in three million visitors annually, requiring 100 aircraft landings per day. This is not fantasy; it is a carefully calibrated plan to transform Enugu into a tourism and investment destination.

The New Enugu Smart City is another component of this vision. Spanning 10,000 hectares, it is bigger than Phase 1 of the Federal Capital Territory and comparable in size to Paris.

The first phase alone covers 1,000 hectares—twice the size of Victoria Island. All utilities—electricity, water, fibre optics, sewage, and surveillance—are underground. There will be no overhead cables, no generators, no boreholes. It is a smart, liveable city designed for a 15-minute walk lifestyle. And it will be delivered by November 2026.

But Mbah is equally focused on the fundamentals. The state has dedicated 33% of its budget to education for three consecutive years, building over 7,000 classrooms and 267 smart green schools equipped with robotics centres, AI hubs, and 3D printers.

The pedagogy has been reformed from rote learning to experiential learning, with teachers trained at the Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation (CELI). The logic is unassailable: “If we don’t get these kids skilfully equipped, they will take to criminality as a venture tomorrow. So, we might as well spend that money today, training them.”

The 300-bed Enugu International Specialist Hospital, equipped with MRI machines, cancer treatment facilities, and modern surgical theatres, is designed to capture a share of the $2 billion annual medical tourism market. The 38.6-kilometre Enugu–Onitsha–Port Harcourt concrete pavement road, the dualisation of the 21.5-kilometre Enugu International Airport road, and the Abakpa flyover interchange bridge are all evidence of a government that is building for the long term.

Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu west, captured the mood of the region when he declared: “To be honest, I was among those who previously felt that Enugu and the south-east had been neglected by the federal government. But that is now a thing of the past. Under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, we have been carried along”.

He cited the Eke Obinagu flyover, the reconstructed Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, and the Enugu-Onitsha road as evidence that the south-east is no longer marginalised. “How can we be marginalised when we have the Honourable Minister for Works for the first time? And who is performing? We cannot be marginalised”.

ABIA: A GOVERNOR WITHOUT PARTY COLOURS, DELIVERING WITH FEDERAL SUPPORT

The tour in Abia State offered a different but equally compelling narrative. Here was a governor from the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Alex Otti, working seamlessly with a federal government led by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sunday Dare, special adviser to the president on media and public communication, noted that “political party differences make no difference when it comes to governance”. “When it comes to the development of your people, you don’t essentially have to wear party colours. Because when you play too much party politics, development suffers, and your people suffer”.

The projects inspected in Abia were impressive. The 67-kilometre Umuahia–Uzuakoli–Akara–Ohafia Road, a state-financed project, connects over 20 communities and facilitates the movement of agricultural produce. The Omenuko Bridge along the Ohafia–Umuahia corridor strengthens critical transportation infrastructure serving thousands of commuters. The Nnenna Otti Bus Terminal in Umuahia is a modern transportation hub designed to transform public transportation in the state.

But the highlight was the renewed hope housing estate in Umuahia, a flagship federal government project comprising 1,200 housing units. The Abia state government provided the land and paid compensation to affected landowners, while the federal government, through the federal housing authority, is undertaking the construction.

This is collaboration at its best—federal and state governments working together to address the nation’s housing deficit. The Onuinyan Bende renewed Hope housing project, another significant development, further underscores the federal government’s commitment to reducing the housing deficit through strategic investments in affordable housing.

THE UNIFYING THREAD: INCLUSION, NOT MARGINALISATION

What ties these three states together is not just the scale of projects, but the philosophy behind them. President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda has been deliberate in ensuring that development does not bear tribal marks. As one official put it, “The vision is that it does not bear tribal marks or ethnic marks. So long as you are part of a Nigerian state, development will reach you”.

This is a significant departure from the past. For decades, the South-East complained of exclusion. Today, that complaint no longer holds water. Senator Ngwu’s admission that he was among those who felt marginalised but now sees the evidence of federal investment is a powerful testimony to the shift that has occurred.

Minister Umahi’s declaration that “all our forefathers sought—inclusiveness—we have it now” is a fitting epitaph for the old narrative of neglect.

The Renewed Hope Housing projects are a perfect example of this inclusivity. In Kano, houses are at about 60 percent completion. In Abuja and other states, they are at 45 percent. In Abia, progress is at about 35 percent. This is not a project for one region or one tribe; it is a national programme. The vision is that it does not bear tribal marks or ethnic marks. So long as you are part of a Nigerian state, development will reach you. That is a powerful statement of intent, and it is being backed by action.

THE CRITICS AND THE FACTS 

Of course, there will be critics. There are always critics. Some will say the projects are not enough. Others will question the quality. A few will even deny what is plainly visible. But the evidence from the Renewed Hope Media Tour is overwhelming.

Over five days, across five states, the delegation saw completed flyovers, ongoing expressway reconstructions, smart schools, specialist hospitals, housing estates, and ambitious new cities. These are not “audio projects”—they are concrete, steel, and glass.

The improvements on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway alone have reduced travel time from five to six hours to just over two hours. That is not a marginal improvement; it is a transformation. The Eke Obinagu Flyover has resolved a long-standing transportation problem on the route connecting Enugu and Ebonyi states. The concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport will soon allow direct flights from Enugu to the US, UK, and China. These are not promises; they are achievements.

A NEW DAW FOR THE SOUTH-EAST

The renewed hope media tour of the south-east has accomplished what no press release could: it has provided irrefutable evidence that the region is no longer neglected. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the south-east is being rebuilt road by road, bridge by bridge, school by school, and house by house. The fiscal reforms of the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy, have given states the resources to dream big and deliver. And the governors of the region have risen to the occasion, executing projects that were once considered impossible.

The narrative of marginalisation is no longer tenable. It is time for the South-East to recognise that it is now part of the centre. It is time for the region to celebrate its inclusion rather than mourn its exclusion. And it is time for Nigerians across the country to see that the renewed hope agenda is not a slogan; it is a strategy that is delivering tangible results in every corner of the nation.

As President Tinubu’s Special Adviser, Sunday Dare, noted: “By the time we conclude our assessment across the six geopolitical zones, Nigerians will have enough evidence that the President is working for the country”. The South-East tour has provided that evidence. The region is no longer waiting for development. It is living it.

The post Infrastructural development: How Tinubu is transforming the south-east first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Adeyeye spoke while expressing concern over the rising cases of banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes, which he described as a major threat to peace and development.

The traditional priest said the security challenges confronting Nigeria required a collective response that includes drawing lessons from the values and communal systems upheld by past generations.

According to him, Yoruba society was historically guided by principles of justice, peace and communal harmony, making it difficult for criminal elements to thrive.

He argued that the erosion of traditional values and the increasing embrace of foreign cultures had contributed to the challenges currently facing society.

“We must return to the values and principles that guided our forefathers. Our ancestors stood for justice, peace and communal harmony, and it was difficult for bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements to operate in Yorubaland,” he said.

Adeyeye urged traditional priests and cultural custodians across Yorubaland to work together in promoting values that encourage social order and peaceful coexistence.

He also called for stronger efforts to combat banditry and kidnapping, stressing that residents deserve to live and move freely without fear.

The traditional priest further advocated closer cooperation among local security groups, including Agbekoya and the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), as well as collaboration with national security agencies to improve security across the region.

While commending President Bola Tinubu for policies aimed at strengthening the country, Adeyeye identified insecurity as one of the major challenges confronting the administration.

He expressed optimism that greater collaboration among traditional institutions, community-based groups and security agencies would contribute to efforts to restore peace and stability in Yorubaland and across Nigeria.

The post Traditional priest urges return to ancestral values to tackle insecurity in Yorubaland first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Idris said the federal government has also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security in vulnerable communities.

The minister said the safe return of all children and teachers currently in captivity remains a top priority for the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“The president has made it clear that no child belongs in captivity and that no effort will be spared in ensuring that those responsible for these heinous crimes are brought to justice,” Idris said.

“He has directed that every lawful instrument available to the Nigerian state be deployed towards achieving this objective, including the deployment of a specialised rescue team.

“He has also authorised the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security presence across vulnerable communities and forests within the state.”

The minister was speaking against the backdrop of the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo state and a separate attack on a school in Askira-Uba LGA of Borno state, where dozens of children were reported missing.

According to Idris, multiple security and intelligence agencies are working together to secure the release of the victims.

He said the armed forces, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), office of the national security adviser (ONSA), and the National Counter Terrorism Centre are coordinating intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance, community engagement and rescue operations.

The minister said the Tinubu administration has adopted an intelligence-led security strategy that combines military operations, technological deployment, regional cooperation and socio-economic interventions.

He added that the administration is also pursuing a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, including plans for state policing.

“One of the pillars of this overhaul is the determined implementation of state policing,” Idris said.

“President Tinubu is determined to ensure that one of his legacies is the delivery of a restructured policing system that is dynamic, flexible, and fit-for-purpose.”

Highlighting recent security gains, the minister said troops of Operation Hadin Kai had recorded significant successes against Boko Haram and ISWAP in the north-east.

According to him, more than 50 terrorists, including high-value targets, were recently neutralised in operations along the Kirawa-Pulka and Ngoshe axes of Borno state.

He added that approximately 1,000 terrorist elements, including dozens of commanders, were eliminated during the first quarter of 2026.

Idris also referenced a joint Nigeria-United States operation conducted in May which disrupted terrorist logistics networks and eliminated key ISWAP commanders, while 92 civilians were rescued from captivity near Buratai.

In the north-west and north-central regions, he said security agencies had intensified operations against bandits and kidnapping syndicates in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kogi, Niger, Kwara and Kaduna states.

The minister said enhanced maritime security operations in the Niger Delta had contributed to a rise of about 400,000 barrels per day in oil production since Tinubu assumed office.

He also highlighted recent successes in terrorism prosecutions, noting that four terrorists convicted over the June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state, were recently sentenced to death.

According to him, Nigeria has also recorded 386 convictions from 508 terrorism-related cases prosecuted in one of the country’s largest terrorism trials.

Idris said the government is strengthening security cooperation with international partners, particularly the United States, in intelligence sharing, military training, border security, cybersecurity and counterterrorism operations.

The minister said President Tinubu has maintained close coordination with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state in responding to the recent abductions.

He added that both federal and state authorities are sharing intelligence and mobilising resources to secure the release of the victims.

While urging citizens to remain vigilant and provide credible information to security agencies, Idris warned against narratives that promote division and fear.

“Terrorism has no tribe. Terrorism has no religion. Terrorism has no political affiliation. Its only purpose is destruction,” he said.

The minister also called on media organisations to report responsibly and avoid sensational coverage that could amplify the objectives of terrorist groups.

He assured families of the abducted victims that the government had not abandoned them.

“Every available resource is being deployed. Every security agency remains engaged. Every intelligence lead is being pursued,” Idris said.

“Nigeria has faced difficult moments before and emerged stronger. We shall overcome this challenge as well. We shall defeat terrorism. We shall protect our schools. We shall safeguard our children.”

The post Mohammed Idris: FG deploying specialised rescue team for abducted Ogbomoso, Borno schoolchildren first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Investigations suggest that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s alleged interest in the succession has contributed to the delay by the Ogun state government, despite earlier assurances that he had no preference for who emerges as the next Awujale.

The Awujale stool became vacant following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona on July 13, 2025.

Sources familiar with the matter said Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, had initially consulted President Tinubu on the succession, during which the president reportedly stated that he had no interest in the process and that traditional divination (Ifa) should guide the selection.

However, political dynamics reportedly shifted weeks later.

According to sources, when President Tinubu attended the Eyo Festival in Lagos last December, Abiodun again raised the issue.

It was during the meeting, the sources said, that the president allegedly expressed support for an unnamed candidate.

Although no official confirmation has been made, rumours within political and traditional circles suggest that the individual is Ademorin Kuye, a serving member of the house of representatives, who is said to be claiming presidential backing for the Awujale stool.

A source privy to the succession process said the president allegedly linked his position to unresolved political disagreements with the Ogun state governor.

“The president reportedly told the governor that since his preferred candidate was not appointed as a commissioner, the governor should not expect to announce his own preferred candidate as Awujale,” the source said.

Kunle Hassan, a renowned ophthalmic surgeon, is widely believed to be Abiodun’s preferred candidate for the throne.

Meanwhile, complications within the Fusegbuwa ruling House — the family next in line to produce the Awujale — have further stalled the process.

Fassy Yusuf, the deputy olori-ebi of the ruling house, had disclosed that over 60 candidates emerged from the family, making it difficult to reach a consensus.

As a result, the Ogun state government reportedly suspended the ruling house indefinitely following allegations of corruption and bribery against members of its olori-ebi council.

The 14-day ultimatum given to the family to present a consensus candidate has since elapsed, raising questions about whether the Fusegbuwa ruling house has constitutionally forfeited its turn.

Sources said Abiodun considered moving the process to another ruling house but has delayed taking a final decision due to the president’s alleged political interest in the succession.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the presidency nor the Ogun state government has issued an official statement on the matter.

The post How Tinubu’s alleged interest in Awujale’s stool delays announcement of Oba-designate first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

The monarch gave the assurance on Friday during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the NDLEA in Abuja, where he was received by Buba Marwa, its chairman.

The Alaafin was accompanied by two other traditional rulers — the Oloro of Oro, Oba Joel Olaniyan Olatoye, and the Olusin of Ijara Isin, Oba Ademola Julius Ajibola.

Oba Owoade praised Marwa’s public service record and described his leadership qualities as exemplary, noting that his years as a military administrator in Borno and Lagos laid a strong foundation for his achievements.

“We are proud of you. Your being in this position is not by chance — it reflects your devotion, commitment, and character,” he said.

“You have always been a performer, and the legacy of Keke Marwa remains unforgettable. We are ready to collaborate with you.”

The monarch said traditional rulers occupy a strategic position at the grassroots and are well placed to provide intelligence, advocacy and community mobilisation in the anti-drug campaign.

“We are at the grassroots; we know what is going on. My colleagues and I are more than ready to work with you and give all the necessary support to ensure your success. Anytime you need us, we will be there,” he added.

Marwa congratulated the Alaafin on his ascension to the throne and stressed that traditional institutions remain critical in addressing Nigeria’s drug challenge.

He said recent data from the 2018 national drug use survey shows that nearly 15 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 use drugs — a situation he described as “unacceptable”.

“We have been mandated by President Bola Tinubu to fight the drug scourge, arrest traffickers, prosecute them, and seize their assets,” Marwa said.

“But we need the traditional institutions. Nigerians respect their traditional rulers, and when they speak, it carries weight.”

The NDLEA chairman urged traditional rulers to work closely with religious leaders in their domains to strengthen advocacy against drug use. He also appealed for intelligence from communities to help identify and apprehend local drug dealers.

“If we can control drug use, criminality will drop. Kidnappers, insurgents, terrorists and bandits rely on drugs to charge themselves up,” he said.

Marwa expressed appreciation to the Alaafin for the visit and wished him a long and impactful reign marked by peace and development in Oyo Kingdom.

The post Alaafin pledges support for NDLEA’s fight against drug abuse first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

The contract was awarded by Bala Mohammed, a former FCT minister. The road project has now been re-awarded to SCC under an emergency arrangement.

Wike announced the development on Thursday in Abuja during an inspection tour of ongoing road projects, including the Karu-Customs-CBN Road, Gishiri-Katampe road, and Apo-Wasa Carriageway.

He stressed that road contracts should prioritize public welfare over politics.

“Let me tell you the truth, we have terminated that contract; it has been re-awarded to SCC. If you go there now, you will see that they have started work,” Wike said.

The minister also confirmed that work on the Kubwa-Bwari road has begun, which will serve as a vital alternative route.

During the inspection at Karu, Wike assured a shop owner affected by demolition for obstructing a water channel that fair compensation would be provided but emphasised that public interest must prevail.

Wike highlighted that residents’ warm reception to ongoing projects reflects approval of the government’s development efforts.

He further revealed that all ongoing road projects would be completed and commissioned during President Bola Tinubu’s third-anniversary celebration.

“No new contracts will be awarded in 2026. Our focus will be on completing all ongoing projects, especially since 2026 is a political year,” Wike explained.

The post Wike revokes Apo-Karshi road contract over poor performance, re-awards to SCC first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

OPS said the current draft is misaligned with the federal government’s fiscal reform direction and contains several legal and administrative gaps.

The position was presented in a paper submitted by OPS on Thursday, during the public hearing on the bill, which recently passed its second reading in the national assembly.

The group explained that the non-alcoholic drinks (NAD) sector is committed to supporting government revenue and public health objectives, but stressed that policies must be holistic, harmonised, and context-appropriate, ensuring they improve health outcomes without undermining jobs, investment, affordability, or industrial stability.

OPS warned that Nigeria’s excise framework is increasingly fragmented, with new levies introduced without a coordinated assessment of their combined effects on production, investment, backward integration, employment, exports, and inflation.

Such uncoordinated policies, the group said, could undermine President Tinubu’s economic reforms without delivering measurable public health gains.

The group said a steep excise increase or new levy would impose significant economic costs on businesses and consumers while providing little to no public health benefit.

OPS also highlighted that the proposed excise amendment contains mathematical, legal, and administrative contradictions, worsens Nigeria’s fragmented fiscal environment, and conflicts with national industrialisation priorities, including the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan.

OPS further warned that the amendment could weaken the beverage value chain, one of Nigeria’s largest contributors to non-oil revenue and a major employer.

The group said the levy would increase operating costs, reduce capacity utilisation, and raise consumer prices, at a time when households and small businesses are already under economic pressure.

This, they added, could reduce VAT and CIT collections and place additional strain on medium-term FAAC revenues.

“Nigeria’s non-alcoholic drinks sector is a critical economic stabiliser, supporting 1.5 million jobs, driving backward integration under the NSMP II, and contributing 40–45% of gross revenues as taxes, yet already operating under severe macroeconomic strain and thin margins,” OPS said.

The group noted that as a key non-oil revenue contributor, the beverage industry’s stability is vital for the administration’s ease-of-doing-business objectives.

OPS criticised the national assembly for advancing the bill without coordination with the ministry of finance, the presidential fiscal policy and tax reform committee, FAAC, and other relevant institutions, saying it contradicts the President’s emphasis on stability, predictability, simplicity, and non-disruptive tax reform.

OPS cited evidence showing that steep or ambiguous sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes in low-income economies often lead to job losses, MSME contraction, reduced government revenue, no measurable health gains, widening inequality, and growth of the informal market.

“The amendment bill contains internal contradictions (‘20% levy per litre of retail price’) that are impossible to implement consistently,” the group added.

Over-taxation may shrink the formal sector, reduce VAT and CIT collections, and shift consumers to informal markets. The bill may cut medium-term FAAC distributions and weaken state-level revenue stability.”

OPS concluded by stating that it remains open to engagement with lawmakers, fiscal agencies, and civil society groups to ensure that any revision to the excise regime supports investment, jobs, and long-term revenue stability.

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