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First Batch of Nigerian Pilgrims Return From Jordan Today

By
Toyin Adebayo
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The first batch of Nigerian Christian pilgrims will depart Jordan today, marking the beginning of the return journey for participants in the 2025 delayed Easter Pilgrimage.

According to the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), the contingent includes pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Benue, Edo, Taraba, and Ondo States. They are set to be airlifted back to Nigeria after completing their spiritual activities in the Holy Land.

Executive Secretary of NCPC, Rt. Rev. Stephen Adegbite, represented by Bishop Raphael Nwankwo, expressed satisfaction with the pilgrims’ conduct during their stay. He assured that logistics and safety arrangements have been finalized to guarantee a smooth airlift.

“The commission has worked closely with our partners in Jordan and Nigerian authorities to ensure the safety and comfort of our pilgrims. We are confident this first batch will arrive home safely, with subsequent flights following in quick succession,” Adegbite stated.

Medical personnel and NCPC officials are accompanying the pilgrims to provide continued support until their arrival in Nigeria.

This year’s pilgrimage drew hundreds of Christians nationwide who retraced biblical sites, deepened their faith, and prayed for Nigeria’s peace and development.

Director of the FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Gloria Dandam, commended the pilgrims for their orderly conduct throughout the tour and praised the commitment of officials who ensured the exercise was seamless.

I’m Not Happy With Pace of Work on Appeal Court Quarters- Wike

By
Toyin Adebayo
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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work at the construction site of the new division for the Appeal Court, warning the contractor to expedite efforts to meet deadlines.

“If you ask me, am I happy? Certainly not. But not being happy will not solve the problem. The contractor will see me today, and we will see what can be done to expedite the speed of work,” Wike told journalists during an inspection of ongoing judiciary projects on Monday in Abuja.

The Minister, who had earlier promised that the facility would be ready by the next legal year, admitted concerns over possible delays but assured that the project would be delivered before the end of 2025.

“I make a promise to the crew that in their next legal year, education will take place in their new division. Having been there today, I am afraid the contractor may not meet up. But I do know it will not exceed this year,” he said.

Wike, however, expressed satisfaction with progress on other judiciary housing projects, including 20 units of duplexes for the FCT High Court, 10 units for the Court of Appeal, and additional quarters for the Federal High Court.

With full furnishing, the housing units are scheduled to be handed over by January 2026, though the Minister noted they could be completed earlier given the current pace.

The initiative, he explained, is part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to judicial welfare and independence.

“This is an initiative from the President, who has never hidden his intention to provide welfare and make the judiciary independent. Judges should not live among criminals or tenants. With this, they will have their autonomy and carry out their duties effectively,” Wike added.

The Minister commended the contractors working on the judges’ quarters but urged them to sustain the momentum and deliver the projects on time.

Democracy Allows Protest, But Blackmail Won’t Sway Tinubu — Wike

By
Toyin Adebayo
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By [Your Name], AbujaThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has said that while protest remains a legitimate right in every democracy, no amount of blackmail will derail President Bola Tinubu’s administration from delivering on its mandate.

Speaking at the official flag-off of the construction of Access Roads ILS 02 and ILS 03 (Timipre Sylva Street) in Mabushi District on Monday, Wike stressed that the Federal Government welcomes lawful demonstrations but will not succumb to threats or distractions.“Democracy is all about protest. You can protest, it is your right. But let me assure you, blackmail will not change anything. It will not stop what Mr. President is committed to doing for Nigerians,” Wike stated.

The Minister maintained that Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is firmly on course, with infrastructure, education, health, transportation, and youth empowerment at the heart of government interventions in the FCT.

He noted that while some critics accuse his administration of focusing heavily on road projects, such criticisms are proof that visible progress is being made.“We didn’t come here for beauty contests. We came here to work, and at the right time, every sector will show its report card,” he said.

Wike also assured residents that only projects with available funds are being undertaken to prevent abandoned contracts, adding that accountability remains a guiding principle of his leadership.

FCTA Clears Kidnap Hideouts in Abuja Forests, Vows Tougher Security Measures

By
Toyin Adebayo
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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday cleared forests and plantations in Abuja suspected to be hideouts for kidnappers, following a recent abduction attempt in Kpaduma and Kobi villages that claimed the life of a vigilante officer.

Director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the clearance was part of ongoing efforts to deny criminals ungoverned spaces within the territory. “About a week ago, there was a reported case of kidnapping, and the suspects were traced to this area. That is why we are here this morning to ensure all the trees are brought down,” he stated.Galadima added that community leaders supported the exercise, stressing that the villages had also been victims of kidnappers and were not demanding compensation for the loss of economic trees.

Also speaking, Dr. Peter Olumiji, Secretary of the Command and Control Centre, who represented the Director of FCTA Security Services, confirmed that the September 15 kidnapping attempt was foiled, though one vigilante died in the operation.

He described the cleared forest as a known transit route for criminals linking Karu, Jikwoyi, Orozo, and Kurudu, and disclosed that the Administration would establish a 24-hour police post in the area, install solar-powered streetlights, deploy surveillance drones, and strengthen intelligence gathering to tackle insecurity.

Mahmoud Rallies Global Support for Women’s Empowerment at UN Forum

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has urged the international community to scale up support for women’s economic empowerment, describing it as a vital pathway to reducing poverty, achieving equity, and promoting lasting peace.

She made the call at a high-level economic empowerment forum for women political leaders and economic experts, held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.Dr. Mahmoud expressed delight that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Renewed Hope Agenda has prioritized gender inclusion, youth development, and opportunities that enable women to thrive as innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

She reaffirmed the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s commitment to providing women with equitable access to finance, skills, and markets to fully contribute to national growth.“

This gathering underscores the truth that gender equality is not a privilege but a fundamental right, and financing inclusive growth is a responsibility we must all shoulder,” she said. “By placing women at the centre of economic development, we invest in the transformation of families, communities, and nations.”

The forum, themed “Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment: Financing Inclusive Growth for Peace, Development, and Human Rights,” brought together policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, diplomats, and other stakeholders to chart new strategies for advancing women’s empowerment globally.

NHIA Launches Neonatal Services in Kano to Strengthen Maternal and Child Health

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has expanded its Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) programme with the introduction of neonatal services in Kano State.

The scheme was formally launched with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Authority and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), witnessed by the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf. Three other state-owned facilities Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, and Khalifah Shiek Isiyaka Rabiu Paediatric Hospital were also enrolled.

NHIA Director-General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, represented by the Director of Informal Sector Department, Dr. Sikiru Salaudeen, said the neonatal component builds on the successes of the maternal arm of the programme.

According to him in a statement by

Emmanuel Ononokpono, Acting Director of Media and Public Relations at NHIA, said the move reflects the Authority’s commitment to reducing maternal and child mortality and expanding access to quality healthcare for vulnerable groups.

He noted that, more than 200 facilities nationwide are already implementing the maternal component, with over 14,000 women treated 40 percent of them from Kano.

Dr. Salaudeen explained that the neonatal coverage includes birth asphyxia, neonatal sepsis, jaundice, and acute surgical emergencies. To ensure transparency, he said independent external verifiers have been engaged to monitor the initiative.

Commending the programme, Professor Abdurahman Suwaid, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at AKTH, disclosed that 972 women have already benefitted from the maternal programme in the hospital, making it the largest NHIA beneficiary facility nationwide.

FG Revokes 1,263 Mining Licenses in Crackdown on Speculators – Alake

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

The Federal Government has revoked 1,263 mineral licenses belonging to operators who defaulted in paying statutory service fees, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, announced on Sunday.

The revoked titles include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses and 470 small-scale mining leases.Alake said the move, approved after a recommendation by the Mining Cadastral Office (MCO), was aimed at ridding the sector of speculators hoarding licenses while genuine investors struggle to access viable sites.

“The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder is over,” Alake declared. “The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. Defaulters will also be referred to the EFCC for debt recovery.”

According to the Minister, the action raises the number of revoked titles under the Tinubu administration to 3,794, part of sweeping reforms that have “massive and manifest positive impacts despite resistance from defaulters and their agents.”

MCO Director-General, Engr. Simon Nkom, said 1,957 licenses were initially flagged for revocation after a notice was gazetted on June 19, 2025, but reconciliations of payments delayed final approval.

Relief for Patients as Wike Approves FCT Resident Doctors’ Demands

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has approved the demands of resident doctors who went on strike on September 15 over unpaid arrears.

Wike made the announcement on Friday while flagging off the construction of the Northern Parkway from Ring Road II to Ring III along Shehu Yar’Adua Way, Life Camp, Abuja.

He praised the doctors for suspending their industrial action in the interest of patients across the territory, assuring them that all pending requests had been addressed.

“I must commend the resident doctors for calling off the strike. The administration is happy with their understanding. I have signed all the doctors’ requests on my table today,” Wike said.

The minister directed the FCT Acting Head of Service and his Senior Special Adviser on Administration, Samuel Atang, to immediately implement the approvals.

On the road project, Wike noted that the construction would create jobs, ease traffic congestion, and boost economic activities in the city.

Resident doctors had embarked on the strike after months of unresolved negotiations with the FCTA. Their demands include payment of salary arrears of one to six months owed since 2023, recruitment of new staff, settlement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and arrears from the 25/35 percent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

They also want timelines for completing skipping and conversion processes, correction of irregular salary payments, release of wage award arrears, payment of 13 months’ hazard allowance arrears, and settlement of arrears owed to 2025 external residents.

Dele Alake Named African Champion of the Year by APA

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has been named African Champion of the Year by the African Professionals of Australia (APA), in recognition of his leadership in reforming the mining sector and fostering diaspora engagement.

The award was presented during the Australia-Africa Diaspora Investment Forum, held on September 5, 2025, at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth, alongside the Africa Down Under (ADU) Mining Conference. The event drew top government officials, investors, and professionals from across Africa and the diaspora.

APA WA President, Dr. Toyosi Craig, and APA Chairman, Mr. Tommy Adebayo, jointly conferred the Certificate of Recognition and the 2025 African Professional Champion of the Year Award on Dr. Alake. Among the dignitaries in attendance were Ambassador Anwar Muktar, Consul General of Ethiopia, and Ambassador Dr. Jane Adams, Consul General of Nigeria.

Representing the Minister, Mr. Martin Imonite, Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company, delivered his keynote address. He reaffirmed Dr. Alake’s commitment to advancing reforms in the solid minerals sector while strengthening partnerships with African professionals globally.

The forum also featured high-level panel discussions on investment, business opportunities, expert recruitment, and emerging trends across Africa. Speakers underscored the importance of harnessing the expertise of diaspora professionals to accelerate the continent’s development.

Founded in 2007, the African Professionals of Australia has grown into one of the largest African professional networks in the country, with over 1,500 members from more than 20 African nations, spanning medicine, engineering, IT, law, accounting, education, and community development. The organisation serves as a platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and collective impact between Africans and Australians.

FG Tasks New South-South, South-West, North-Central Dev Commissions: “Rebuild Trust, Deliver Results”

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Governing Boards and Management Teams of the South-South, South-West, and North-Central Development Commissions, charging them to deliver people-focused projects and rebuild public trust in governance.

Speaking at the ceremony held at the Rotunda Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, urged the appointees to align their mandates with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Your role isn’t just about distributing funds or managing projects; it’s about rebuilding trust in governance by delivering results that truly improve lives,” Momoh declared. He added that the Ministry had signed a Performance Bond with the President and would soon require the Commissions to do the same.

Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, described the establishment of the Commissions as a strategic move by President Tinubu to bridge developmental gaps, leverage regional strengths, and drive growth across all geopolitical zones. “The mandate of these Commissions is to act as catalysts for infrastructure renewal, social empowerment, and economic diversification,” he said.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mary Ada Ogbe, commended the President for his visionary leadership and expressed confidence in the ability of the Boards and Management Teams to deliver meaningful transformation. She noted that the three Commissions now join four others already operational under the Ministry—NDDC, NEDC, SEDC, and NWDC.

Representing the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Felix Uche Nwaeke warned the appointees against “unnecessary and bogus contracts,” urging them to execute only projects with direct benefits to ordinary Nigerians. He assured them of the National Assembly’s support in ensuring development reaches the grassroots.

The event was attended by dignitaries including representatives of the Governors of Nasarawa and Plateau States, as well as the Minister of Women Affairs, Iman Ibrahim. Appointees of the new Boards pledged loyalty to the Federal Government and commitment to fast-tracking regional development.

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