Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has vowed that Abuja courts will soon breathe a fresh air as new courtrooms spring up across the city, declaring that justice delivery will no longer be slowed down by lack of space.
Wike, who embarked on an inspection tour of ongoing High Court and Magistrate Court projects in Asokoro, Jabi and Garki, said the intervention by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would end the era of congestion in FCT courts.
“We are doing unexpected road projects, and today we are taking turns to inspect our intervention in the judicial sector to provide more courthouses for the FCT High Court and Magistrate Courts,” Wike said.
Despite challenging terrain at the Asokoro site, the Minister expressed confidence that the project would be delivered on schedule.
“I’ve seen the level of work, even though the topography is very bad. It’s a problem, but we’ll overcome it. Jabi was the last one where we laid foundation in December last year. Now we’re in Garki and you can see how far this has gone. I’m very pleased with the quality of the job,” he stated.
He revealed that contractors have assured the FCT Administration that the projects would be ready before the end of June.
“The contractors have said that before the end of June, they will have delivered this project. With this intervention by Mr. President, FCT courts will now have more courthouses so they will not be lacking courtrooms to dispense justice,” he added.
Wike stressed that while the administration is aggressively constructing roads, rehabilitating schools and strengthening the health sector, the judiciary cannot be left behind.
“The judicial arm of government is very critical in making sure people get the dividends of democracy. There’s no reason to focus on one sector and ignore the other,” he said.
The Minister assured residents that the new facilities would improve efficiency, speed up trials and strengthen public confidence in the justice system.
For Abuja residents, it may soon be a new dawn more courtrooms, quicker hearings and justice delivered without delay.
More Courts, Faster Justice!’ — Wike Storms Sites, Says FCT Courts to Get Massive Boost by June
2027 SHOWDOWN! ADC Launches Nationwide Membership Drive, David Mark Boasts: ‘We’ll Form Next Government’
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has fired the first major shot ahead of the 2027 general elections, kicking off a nationwide membership registration drive — with a bold declaration that it is set to take over power.
At the colourful launch in Abuja on Thursday, former Senate President and ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, confidently declared that the party is laying the foundation to form the next government.
“I assure you that in 2027, ADC will form the government and this is the foundation we are laying today,” Mark said to loud applause from party leaders and supporters.
The event brought together key figures including Registration Committee Chairman, Alhaji Imam Ibrahim; digital platform lead, Aisha Yesufu; and National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Mark warned against the shady practices common in other parties where membership cards are allegedly hoarded to manipulate figures.
“Our cards will not be kept in rooms. They will be given to our members,” he said, stressing that membership would not be based on favoritism.
“Whether you are our friend or our enemy, as long as you want to register and abide by our rules, we will give you our card,” he added.
To avoid technical glitches and exclusion, the ADC unveiled a hybrid registration system — combining manual and digital platforms.
Alhaji Imam Ibrahim explained that the party opted for a web-based application instead of relying solely on a website or mobile app, citing concerns over crashes and limited internet access.
“We are going to give each state 50,000 cards from today. We want manual registration to go alongside online registration because we don’t want to disenfranchise anybody,” he said.
Digital activist Aisha Yesufu assured members that the online platform is seamless and secure.
“Within a minute or two, registration is done. It comes with a passport photograph and a QR code. At any time, you can verify the person’s details,” she explained.
She added that the system uses voters’ identification numbers to authenticate members, ensuring credibility and eliminating fake entries.
But while Mark talked tough about 2027 victory, Aregbesola sounded a note of caution, warning party leaders not to inflate membership figures for show.
In a keynote address titled ‘A Register of Conviction, Not Convenience,’ he blasted political parties that pad their registers with “phantom names.”
“A party of ghosts cannot win elections. A party of ghosts cannot govern,” Aregbesola warned.
He urged ADC members to build a disciplined and credible base, insisting that the integrity of the register would determine the party’s moral authority.
With the registration drive now underway across all states, ADC leaders say the exercise marks the beginning of what they describe as a serious grassroots movement aimed at capturing power in 2027.
IGR MAGIC! Wike Promises Mega Road, Bus Terminals Roll Out Before Tinubu’s Third Year
FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has declared that massive road projects and ultra-modern bus terminals in Abuja will be ready for commissioning before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu clocks three years in office.
Speaking during a marathon inspection of ongoing projects across the capital city, Wike beamed with confidence, saying residents will soon begin to reap the benefits of the Renewed Hope infrastructure drive.
According to him, strategic roads linking Wuse to the Central Business Area, Mabushi Bus Terminal, Arterial N1 in Wuye and the sprawling Life Camp axis are moving at impressive speed.
“By the grace of God, most of these projects will be inaugurated by the third year of Mr. President in office,” Wike assured.
The outspoken minister revealed that the projects are not being funded from the Federation Account but through the FCT’s aggressive Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) drive.
“The funding is through IGR. The Federation Account is not even enough for payment of salaries,” he said.
Wike praised the contractors handling the jobs, describing them as competent and committed to quality delivery. He also disclosed that the bus terminals will be handed over to private operators once the Federal Executive Council gives the final approval.
The minister maintained that the ongoing works are opening up new districts, easing traffic gridlock and boosting business activities across the nation’s capital.
With bulldozers roaring and workers racing against time, Wike insisted that Abuja residents should expect a major infrastructure celebration before Tinubu’s third anniversary.
Tinubu, Shettima Storm Kano as APC Rolls Out Red Carpet for Gov Yusuf
KANO – Kano is set for a major political spectacle on Monday, February 16, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are billed to attend the grand reception for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf into the ruling party.
The high-profile event, scheduled to hold at the Sani Abacha Stadium, is expected to attract political heavyweights and party faithful from across the country, turning the ancient city into a beehive of political activity.
Announcing the development on Wednesday, Kano APC Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, said the ceremony was designed to formally welcome Governor Yusuf into the APC in a “grand and symbolic manner.”
According to him, the reception marks a significant political moment for the ruling party in Kano, a state widely regarded as a major force in Nigeria’s political equation.
To ensure a hitch-free event, Abbas inaugurated several committees to oversee planning and coordination.
A 16-member Venue Committee has been set up to handle arrangements at the stadium, while a 15-member Security Committee headed by a retired Nigerian Army Colonel will coordinate security operations in collaboration with relevant agencies.
Also constituted is a 15-member Health Emergency Committee to provide medical support during the ceremony.
To galvanise mass participation, the party inaugurated a 20-member Mobilisation Committee tasked with rallying supporters from across the 44 local government areas of the state.
A 17-member Protocol Committee will manage reception and seating arrangements for top dignitaries, including APC governors and senior federal government officials expected at the event.
In addition, a 15-member Publicity Committee led by Mohammed Garba, with Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa as Secretary, will coordinate media coverage and public awareness.
Abbas described the reception as a defining moment for the APC in Kano, saying it offers the party an opportunity to showcase its strength and consolidate its influence in one of Nigeria’s most politically strategic states.
64% of Nigerian Inmates Await Trial as Correctional Service Seeks Urgent Reforms
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has disclosed that 64 per cent of inmates across custodial centres nationwide are awaiting trial, a development that continues to fuel overcrowding and strain correctional facilities.
Controller-General of Corrections, Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche, made the revelation on Wednesday while defending the Service’s 2025 budget performance and presenting its 2026 estimates before the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions in Abuja.
He stated that as of February 9, 2026, the total inmate population stood at 80,812. Of the figure, 51,955 are awaiting trial, 24,913 are convicted, while 3,850 fall under other detention categories.
“The high proportion of awaiting trial inmates underscores the urgent need for reforms in our correctional system,” Nwakuche said, stressing that the Service is not only responsible for custody but also for the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society as law-abiding citizens.
On the 2025 budget performance, the Controller-General disclosed that the Service received a total allocation of ₦184.63 billion covering personnel, overhead and capital expenditure.
Out of the ₦124.31 billion approved for personnel costs, ₦112.68 billion — representing 90.6 per cent — was released and fully utilised for salaries, pensions and health insurance under the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Recurrent overhead releases stood at 73.7 per cent. Of the ₦38.03 billion allocated, ₦27.28 billion was expended on inmate feeding, leaving ₦10.75 billion outstanding. Operational expenses, including staff training, court duty vehicles, electricity, security and facility maintenance, amounted to ₦6.49 billion.
Capital funding recorded the weakest performance. Only ₦3.22 billion, representing 22.2 per cent of the ₦14.50 billion appropriated, was released, leaving ₦11.27 billion unreleased.
Nwakuche emphasised that capital funds are critical for constructing and rehabilitating custodial facilities, procuring operational vehicles and security equipment, deploying ICT infrastructure and biometric inmate registration systems, as well as supporting prison farm operations.
Although not primarily a revenue-generating agency, the Service realised ₦84.65 million as internally generated revenue in 2025. It currently has 33,024 staff nationwide.
For 2026, the NCoS proposed a budget of ₦198.85 billion. The breakdown includes ₦138.30 billion for personnel costs and ₦50.40 billion for recurrent overhead, with ₦14.83 billion earmarked for feeding an estimated 91,100 inmates.
The Service also requested an additional ₦90.38 billion to boost capital allocation to ₦100.50 billion. Furthermore, it sought approval to settle ₦30.38 billion in promotion arrears and ₦25.16 billion owed to contractors.
In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, underscored the need for urgent reforms, improved infrastructure and presidential assent to the Correctional Service Trust Fund Bill.
“Our core duty is the budget defence of the 2026 Appropriations,” Ogah said, adding that enhanced funding and decentralised infrastructure would strengthen rehabilitation, vocational training and agricultural programmes within custodial centres.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to expand educational opportunities for inmates, noting that about 10 study centres of the National Open University of Nigeria have been established in correctional facilities nationwide, offering free academic programmes.
Ogah called for greater private sector involvement and urged the National Security Adviser to provide operational support to the Service, pointing out that while other security agencies handle arrests and prosecution, the correctional authorities bear responsibility for custody, rehabilitation and reintegration.
The committee is expected to review the Service’s 2025 performance in detail before concluding deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget.
Align Infrastructure, Policy, Capital for Energy Security, Ojulari Urges Africa
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has called on African nations to harmonise infrastructure, policy and capital deployment as a strategic pathway to achieving lasting energy security across the continent.
Ojulari made the call during a fireside chat with Mr. Andy Brown, Deputy Chair of Ørsted and President of the Energy Institute, at the 2026 International Energy Week (IEW) in London on Wednesday.
He identified shared infrastructure, policy alignment, coordinated investment frameworks, cross-border knowledge and technology exchange, integrated gas market development, and sustained regional diplomacy among National Oil Companies (NOCs) as critical pillars for safeguarding Africa’s energy future.
According to a statement issued by NNPC Ltd’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Andy Odeh, Ojulari said the company’s regional gas initiatives reflect how shared energy assets can unlock scale, efficiency and resilience, while expanding cross-border infrastructure.
He stressed the need to fast-track flagship projects such as the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline and the expansion of the West African Gas Pipeline, describing them as vital to deepening regional integration and boosting cross-border energy trade.
Ojulari also advocated aligned pricing frameworks, harmonised transit protocols, local content standards and joint technical regulations across African markets. Drawing lessons from Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), he said regulatory clarity and policy coordination are essential to reducing investment friction, protecting shared infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to energy assets.
The NNPC boss further canvassed the establishment of structured joint investment platforms among African NOCs, arguing that the continent would attract and deploy capital more efficiently through collective action rather than fragmented national efforts.
On NNPC Ltd’s production targets, Ojulari said the company’s ambition to ramp up oil output, scale gas production and attract fresh investment would be driven by a pragmatic, Africa-focused strategy.
“Our pathway is clear: grow production responsibly, scale gas as the backbone of Africa’s industrialisation, strengthen environmental accountability, and align with global decarbonisation objectives—while ensuring that Africans are not left behind in the energy transition,” he said.
The International Energy Week is a leading global energy forum that brings together policymakers, industry executives, investors, regulators and innovators to deliberate on energy security, transition pathways, capital mobilisation and sustainability.
Ojulari’s intervention adds to growing calls for deeper regional cooperation as Africa seeks to balance development priorities with global climate commitments.
FG Owes Contractors N2.2trn — Umahi Unveils N3.2trn ‘Action Year’ Road Budget for 2026
The Federal Government is owing contractors a staggering N2.2 trillion for certified road projects executed between 2024 and 2025, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, revealed on Wednesday.
Umahi made the disclosure while defending the Ministry’s 2026 budget proposal before the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Works in Abuja.
Despite the debt burden, the Minister announced an ambitious N3.244 trillion capital estimate for 2026, describing the coming fiscal year as an “Action Year” focused on completing major highways and four key “legacy projects” initiated by President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the ministry inherited 2,064 ongoing projects in 2023, many of which have been rolled over due to funding constraints.
He disclosed that only N210.318 billion — about 9.7 per cent of the expected capital releases for 2025 — has so far been paid, worsening the funding gap.
Umahi blamed rising construction costs on the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, which he said forced the government to re-scope and reprioritise several projects.
Top on the priority list for 2026 are the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway. The Minister assured lawmakers that work would be delivered in phases, with some sections slated for commissioning by May 29, 2026.
He added that about 70 per cent of unfinished 2025 projects have been captured in the 2026 proposal, while new phases of ongoing projects would be funded in stages to guarantee timely completion.
Highlighting the importance of road infrastructure to security and economic growth, Umahi said the 2026 budget is designed to fix major arterial roads across the country.
In a move to boost transparency and public awareness, the Minister announced that all 10-kilometre stretches of federal road projects will now carry signboards identifying the Ministry of Works and featuring the photograph of President Tinubu.
He also commended the President for what he described as non-interference in contract awards.
“Mr President has never directed me to award contracts to any individual,” Umahi said, noting that this has helped to ease the procurement process and strengthen accountability.
With mounting debts and rising costs, the 2026 road masterplan now faces the critical test of funding and delivery as Nigerians await improved infrastructure nationwide.
E-Transmission Row: ADC Raises Red Flag Over ‘Dangerous Loopholes’ in Amended Electoral Bill
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned that fresh provisions in the amended Electoral Act could undermine real-time electronic transmission of election results, cautioning that alleged discretionary clauses may open the door to manipulation.
In a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it initially welcomed reports that the Senate had strengthened safeguards guaranteeing electronic transmission of results.
According to the ADC, early media accounts suggested that the upper chamber had passed a version of the Electoral Amendment Bill that firmly entrenched real-time transmission — a reform long demanded to protect votes and bolster electoral credibility.
However, the party said more detailed information that later emerged indicates that the Bill, as passed, contains what it described as controversial discretionary provisions capable of weakening that safeguard.
“Our initial reaction was based on early media reports which indicated that the Senate had passed a version of the Electoral Amendment Bill that guarantees the real-time transmission of election results,” the party stated.
“However, subsequent and more detailed reports have since revealed that the Bill, as passed, contains a controversial provision which introduces discretionary clauses capable of weakening the guarantee of real-time electronic transmission and opening the door to the intentional manipulation of election results.”
The ADC stressed that electoral laws must eliminate ambiguity, particularly regarding the transmission and collation of results.
“Any provision in our electoral laws that creates ambiguity, discretion, or technical loopholes around the transmission and collation of election results fundamentally undermines the integrity of the electoral process and cannot be accepted in good conscience,” it said.
The party argued that the credibility of elections depends not on assurances but on clear and unambiguous legal guarantees that reflect the will of the electorate.
It maintained that only an Electoral Amendment Act that unequivocally mandates real-time electronic transmission — without exceptions that could be exploited — would command public confidence and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
The ADC therefore urged the National Assembly to revisit and remove any provision that dilutes mandatory e-transmission and align the final version of the Bill with the position earlier adopted by the House of Representatives.
As the Bill proceeds to harmonisation between both chambers, the ADC’s position signals a fresh round of debate over the legal framework that will shape Nigeria’s next electoral cycle.
2026 Budget Under Fire as CSO Accuses Finance Team of Crippling 2024, 2025 Appropriations
Fresh controversy has trailed the proposed 2026 Appropriation Bill as a civil society organisation accused key officials in Nigeria’s finance team of undermining the implementation of the 2024 and 2025 budgets, thereby weakening public confidence in the new fiscal proposal before the National Assembly.
The National Vanguard for Accountable and Transparent Democracy (NVATD), during a protest at the National Assembly in Abuja, alleged that poor capital releases under the supervision of the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamsedeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, have stalled government performance across critical sectors.
Secretary General of the group, Dr. Harry Linus, claimed that the alleged failure to properly implement previous appropriations has created a ripple effect now casting doubt on the credibility of the 2026 budget.
According to him, the situation was highlighted by the recent remarks of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, who lamented the low release of funds under the 2025 health budget while defending his ministry’s estimates before lawmakers.
Dr. Linus argued that if contractors handling projects under the 2024 budget had been paid — reportedly to the tune of over ₦4 trillion — implementation of the 2025 budget would have been stronger, lending greater credibility to the 2026 proposal.
“The projects in the 2024 budget were executed by contractors, many of whom borrowed from banks. Those projects were commissioned, yet payments have not been made. Without servicing the 2024 budget, fresh contracts under the 2025 appropriation cannot move forward,” he said.
The group alleged that the funding gaps have contributed to challenges across sectors, including health and education, and called for greater accountability within the nation’s fiscal management system.
NVATD urged the National Assembly to intensify oversight and consider withholding approvals for agencies that failed to effectively implement previous budgets, except in essential sectors such as health, education and security.
The protest followed Prof. Pate’s disclosure before the House Committee on Healthcare Services that only ₦36 million — from overhead allocations — had been released out of the ₦218 billion appropriated for the health ministry in the 2025 budget.
Pate attributed the weak capital budget performance to cash flow constraints and systemic bottlenecks, particularly the bottom-up cash planning model operated by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. He noted, however, that personnel costs were fully released and utilised.
As debate over fiscal discipline intensifies, the allegations have placed renewed scrutiny on Nigeria’s budget implementation framework, raising broader questions about accountability, coordination among economic managers and the credibility of the annual appropriation process.
Horror in Southeast Asia: NAPTIP Rescues 23 Nigerian Youths Trapped in Cybercrime Trafficking Ring
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian youths from Thailand, raising the alarm over a disturbing new wave of human trafficking to Southeast Asia for cyber-enabled crimes.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, disclosed that the victims were deceived and trafficked to countries including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, where they were forced into online fraud schemes such as romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud and fake investment operations.
The rescue operation was carried out in collaboration with Eden (Myanmar), with critical support from the British Government and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok, which facilitated emergency travel documentation for the victims.
Bello described the development as a “new and dangerous dimension” of human trafficking targeting young Nigerians with computer and IT skills.
“This is a new dimension of the human trafficking phenomenon that targets vibrant and intelligent Nigerians,” she said. “The traffickers go after boys and girls with skills, especially in IT, and even screen for those who do not smoke or drink. They promise scholarships and lucrative jobs.”
According to her, upon arrival in the destination countries, the victims were allegedly trained in different scamming techniques. Some were enrolled in language schools, particularly to learn Chinese, and later deployed as translators or “customer care” agents to lure unsuspecting victims abroad.
“They were compelled to target individuals and organisations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ethiopia and Canada for romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud and other online crimes,” Bello revealed.
She said the victims were housed in tightly controlled facilities and constantly monitored. Those who failed to meet daily targets were allegedly subjected to severe punishment.
“The victims said they were accommodated in hostels with bunk beds and forced to work under strict surveillance. Some who refused to cooperate were tortured,” she added.
Describing the trend as deeply troubling, Bello said NAPTIP has reactivated its international networks to dismantle the trafficking syndicate and bring its masterminds to justice.
“We will not relent. With the support of our partners, this deadly trafficking ring will be dislodged and the ringleaders arrested,” she vowed.
The DG commended civil society organisations in the region, Eden (Myanmar), the British Government and the Nigerian Embassy in Thailand for their roles in securing the victims’ freedom.
The latest rescue comes weeks after Bello pledged intensified action against human trafficking networks preying on vulnerable Nigerians, signaling what she described as a renewed offensive against organised criminal elements.