No need for the Minister to be dancing around the cost - Governor Makinde calls out Umahi over coastal highway

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, criticising the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for what he described as evasiveness over the project’s true cost.

Makinde addressed the issue while speaking at a public event, saying there was “no need for the Minister to be dancing around the cost” of the project. His comments came days after Umahi engaged in a heated on-air exchange with Arise TV journalist Rufai Oseni, who had pressed the minister to disclose the cost per kilometre of the 700-kilometre highway.

During the interview, Umahi appeared visibly agitated by the question, declaring himself “a professor of practice in engineering” and dismissing Oseni’s inquiry as “elementary.” He argued that road costs could not be calculated uniformly because each kilometre presented unique engineering challenges.  

“These are elementary questions,” Umahi said during the live broadcast. “The money is meant for the project, and it will be paid according to the work done. The prices are different — the next kilometre is different from the next kilometre. Keep quiet and stop saying what you don’t know. I’m a professor in this field. You don’t understand anything.”

Oseni, refusing to back down, replied, “Minister, it’s alright. Keep dignifying yourself, and let the world know who you truly are.”

Weighing in on the exchange, Governor Makinde sided with the journalist, insisting that Nigerians have a right to know the average cost of such a massive public project.

“They asked a minister how much the coastal road is, and then you (Umahi) are dancing around and saying that the next kilometre is different from the next kilometre. Then what is the average cost?” Makinde asked.

Makinde then compared the coastal highway to road projects completed under his osn administration saying; “When we did the Oyo to Iseyin road, it was about ₦9.99 billion — almost ₦10 billion — for about 34 or 35 kilometres. That’s an average of ₦238 million per kilometre,” he said.

“When we did Iseyin to Ogbomoso, that was 76 kilometres at about ₦43 billion, averaging ₦500 million per kilometre. And that project included two bridges — one over the Ogun River and another at the Ogbomoso end.”

Makinde’s comments have reignited debate over the transparency and cost structure of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, one of Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, stretching across nine states with two additional spurs leading northward.

The project, awarded to Hitech Construction Company Limited, was officially flagged off in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, with the first phase comprising 47.47 kilometres of dual carriageway constructed with concrete pavement.

In a statement issued at the time by Umahi’s media aide, Uchenna Orji, the Minister stressed that all contractors handling federal road projects must deliver within record time, warning that delays would not be tolerated and that the government would not accept cost variations once mobilisation had been paid.

Russia launches massive attack on Ukrainian energy grid

Russia conducted a "massive attack" on Ukraine's energy infrastructure early Friday, October 10 according to top Ukrainian officials. The widespread strikes left parts of the capital, Kyiv, and several other regions without power.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the action as a "cynical and calculated attack," stating that Russia launched "more than 450 drones and over 30 missiles" aimed at civilian and energy infrastructure. He stressed that these attacks are Russia's tactic to deprive Ukrainians of power and heat as the bitter winter season approaches, with the goal being "to leave us in darkness, without water and heat."

Ukrainian officials report the attacks on energy facilities, including gas production and distribution, have been almost daily since late September. The latest offensive caused significant damage and casualties across the country. A 7-year-old boy was killed in a strike on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, and dozens of people were injured, including at least 12 in Kyiv.

The attack resulted in extensive power cuts in multiple regions. In the Kyiv region, approximately 28,000 families in the Brovary and Boryspil districts lost electricity, according to Governor Mykola Kalashnik, while the left bank of the capital also experienced power and water supply issues.

Further east, the Poltava region saw more than 16,500 households and 800 businesses without power. Other affected areas included Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia.

The country's largest private energy producer, DTEK Group, reported that its stations were specifically targeted, the third such strike in one week with the attack severely damaging equipment and injuring an energy worker.

Emergency services documented the devastation, sharing video of firefighters battling a massive blaze in Kyiv and helping residents to safety. Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk assured the public that workers are taking all necessary steps to minimize the negative consequences of the attack.

House of reps condemns US bill alleging genocide against Christians in Nigeria

The House of Representatives has strongly condemned a bill proposed by United States lawmakers that seeks to hold Nigerian officials accountable for allegedly “facilitating the mass murder of Christians.”

During Wednesday’s plenary session, the lower chamber passed a resolution rejecting the allegations, stressing that there is no state-sponsored persecution of Christians in Nigeria. The motion was sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu alongside 359 lawmakers.

The bill in question, titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025,” was introduced by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. It calls for targeted sanctions against Nigerian government officials accused of enforcing Sharia and blasphemy laws, urges the U.S. Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” and maintains that Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa should remain listed as entities of particular concern.

The proposed legislation follows recurring international claims that Nigerian Christians face systematic persecution, a narrative the Nigerian government has consistently rejected.

Moving the motion, Kalu said that while the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently recommended Nigeria for designation as a country of concern, the claims fail to reflect the true situation. “Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion,” he said, emphasizing that “successive administrations, security agencies, faith leaders, and civil society continue to take measures to protect all worshippers and prosecute offenders.”

He argued that insecurity in Nigeria stems from complex and multi-dimensional issues — including insurgency, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, separatist violence, and communal disputes — which affect citizens across all faiths. Kalu warned that “external legislative actions based on incomplete or decontextualised assessments risk undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty, misrepresenting facts, straining strategic relations, and unintentionally emboldening violent actors.”

Contributing to the debate, Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere noted that the U.S. bill has already passed its second reading in the Senate, warning that its passage could damage Nigeria’s reputation and cost significant resources to reverse. “Nigerians are facing economic, social, and security challenges, not religious persecution,” he said, describing the move as a “deliberate attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democratic progress.”

Oluwole Oke, Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, criticized the U.S. Senate for excluding Nigerian officials and diplomatic representatives from the bill’s public hearing, describing it as “a deliberate attempt to damage Nigeria’s image.” Similarly, Billy Osawaru, representing Edo State, called it a case of “global politics” and lamented that Nigeria currently lacks an ambassador to the United States who could have engaged with the American lawmakers.

Following the debate, the House rejected narratives portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a religious conflict or as state-sponsored persecution and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to constitutional freedom of religion and belief.

The parliament directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to lodge a formal complaint at the United Nations and urged U.S. legislators to consider a joint Nigeria-U.S. fact-finding and dialogue mission.

The Committee on Legislative Compliance was tasked with ensuring the execution of the resolutions and reporting back to the House within 28 days.

Stop badmouthing your nation, Remi Tinubu appeals to Nigerians

Nigeria's First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to stop badmouthing the country, insisting that the era when Nigeria was branded the “most corrupt country” is over. 

Mrs Tinubu, who is on a two-day working visit to Gombe State, stated this while speaking at the palace of the Emir of Akko,  Lamido Akko, HRH Alhaji Umar Muhammad Atiku on Thursday, October 2, 2025. 

According to Mrs Tinubu, the world now regards Nigeria as a nation of opportunity and growing interest. 

She argued that international perception of the country is shifting positively and that Nigerians must embrace national pride. 

“Calling on us as Nigerians, stop badmouthing your nation. Gone are the days when they say Nigeria is the most corrupt country. You won’t hear that again,” she declared. 

"Even when I go abroad, when they hear you’re from Nigeria, everybody’s interested. They want to come to Nigeria. Nigeria is the next destination,” she added. 

The First Lady praised Gombe’s natural scenery, describing it as comparable to the English countryside. 

She stressed that Nigeria’s unique beauty, combined with its vast human potential, should make citizens more confident about the country’s future.

"We have to be proud. Your landscape is beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like that. You see that in the London countryside, but I’m seeing it here in Gombe and in other states too,” she said. 

Mrs. Tinubu linked her call for national pride to the administration’s ongoing programmes in security, education, and grassroots development, noting that traditional and religious leaders have vital roles to play in shaping citizens’ attitudes. 

She further explained that her work as First Lady is driven by a desire to leave Nigeria better after her husband’s tenure. 

 

“I’m 65 years old now, I pray I live long. But I’m working so hard so that when my husband finishes his tenure, me too I can walk around safely. That is what drives me," she added. 

Meanwhile, Mrs Tinubu was conferred with the traditional title of Sarauniyar Yaki (Queen Warrior) of Akko Emirate in Gombe State.

The Lamido Akko, who bestowed the honor on Mrs. Tinubu said the title was in recognition of her commitment to protecting the interests of vulnerable groups across the country.

 

Lassa Fever: Nigeria records 895 confirmed cases and 166 deaths in 2025 – NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has released its latest Situation Report, covering Week 37 (September 8–14, 2025), confirming a total of 895 Lassa fever cases and 166 deaths across the country so far in 2025.

The latest weekly update reported 11 new confirmed cases in Ondo, Bauchi, Kogi, and Anambra States, representing a slight decline from the 13 cases recorded in the previous week.

The cumulative figures translate to a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.5 percent, which is higher than the 16.9 percent CFR reported during the corresponding period in 2024.

Lassa fever has now been confirmed in 21 states across 106 Local Government Areas (LGAs). However, approximately 90 percent of all infections are concentrated in just five states: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi, highlighting the sustained severe burden of the disease in these regions.

The NCDC report also indicated that the 21–30 age group remains the most affected. Encouragingly, no new infections among healthcare workers were recorded during the reporting week, and both the suspected and confirmed cases show a downward trend compared to the same period last year.

While reaffirming its commitment to outbreak control, the NCDC urged Nigerians to maintain vigilance and adopt crucial preventive measures, including avoiding contact with rodents, ensuring proper food storage, and seeking early medical attention for any suspected symptoms.

FCT begins probe into de@th of Arise TV anchor, Sommie Maduagwu

The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, CP Ajao S. Adewale, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Ms. Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a News Anchor, Reporter, and Producer with Arise News Channel, who tragically lost her life during an armed robbery incident at her residence in the Katampe area of Abuja in the early hours of Monday, September 29, 2025.

Describing the incident as a cruel and senseless act that has no place in a sane society. The Commissioner of Police assured that the Command remains fully committed to ensuring that justice is served.

In a statement released, the command's spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said the FCT police boss has ordered a discreet and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

She mentioned that the police commissioner has further directed the deployment of intelligence and operational assets to identify, track, and apprehend those responsible for this heinous crime.

While assuring residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to public safety and the prevention of similar occurrences, the CP called on members of the public to support ongoing investigations by providing timely and useful information to the Police. He charged all FCT residents to always ensure they raise prompt alarm in every suspicious situation with a view to denying criminal elements in our society, opportunity to carry out their evil plans.

Adeh mentioned that residents of the FCT can reach the Command through the following emergency lines O8032003913, 08028940883 and its complaint Response Unit (CRU): 08107314192

She concluded by saying every effort will be made to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Repentant bandit shot d3ad in Benue market

Panic broke out in Zaki-Biam, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State when unknown gunmen shot and k!lled a repentant bandit, identified as Kyoga Joka.

 

Joka was shot d3ad in the town’s main market on Monday, September 29, 2025.

 

Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the busy market and opened fire on Joka, who was a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in Ukum.

 

He d!ed on the spot, causing traders and shoppers to flee in confusion.

 

The k!lling of Joka has heightened fear and suspicion across the community, with residents pressing security operatives to act swiftly by inviting several individuals for questioning. 

 

Many believe the tragedy may be tied to earlier threats and local rivalries that had been openly discussed before the assassination.

 

According to credible reports, the suspects were seen meeting shortly before Joka’s d3ath. 

 

 

Journalist, Rufai Oseni shares throwback tweet of President Tinubu questioning ex-President Jonathan's competence over the spate of insecurity

As residents of Kwara state battle insecurity in some of its communities, Arise TV anchor, Rufai Oseni, has shared a throwback tweet of President Tinubu questioning ex-President Goodluck Jonathan's competence over the spate of insecurity while he was in office. 

See the post below…

Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Move To Expose Nigerian Politicians Accused Of Aiding Bandits

 

Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have said they are preparing to expose the names of prominent Nigerian politicians aiding bandits in the north-western region of the country. 

The three neighboring nations said they are working on confirming the identities of political figures accused of links with criminal groups in the region, DW Hausa reports.

Authorities further explained that information has already been gathered on certain political actors said to be involved in supplying weapons to the bandits.

The authorities said they already have the names of some top Nigerian politicians and have arrested some individuals involved in supplying weapons to the bandits, adding that investigations are already underway. 

The announcement comes against the backdrop of years of killings, abductions, and displacement carried out by armed bandits across Nigeria’s north-west. 

In Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kaduna States, villages have been repeatedly attacked, homes destroyed, and farmers forced from their lands. 

The violence has also included mass school kidnappings that drew global attention. 

It was also reported that also in Kwara State, the police command confirmed the killing of 12 vigilante members, including the Baale of Ogbayo by bandits, following an attack in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, September 28, 2025, when armed men invaded the Ogbayo area of Oke-Ode at about 7am, shooting sporadically.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, a combined team of police operatives and members of the National Forest Security Service (NFSS) swiftly responded to the distress call. 

Ejire-Adeyemi explained that on arrival, the police discovered the lifeless bodies of 12 vigilante members, including the community head.

The statement added that four persons who sustained gunshot injuries were rushed to hospital for treatment, while the corpses of the deceased were evacuated from the scene. 

Culled from Sahara Reporters.

Nanny kidnaps employer’s baby to cover up a fake pregnancy scam

Police in South Africa have arrested a 35-year-old nanny accused of kidnapping her employer’s baby after allegedly faking a pregnancy to extort money from her boyfriend.

The ordeal began on Saturday afternoon when the infant’s mother returned home to find the house disturbingly quiet, her child and the nanny were both missing. Alarmed, she immediately tried to contact the caregiver. According to police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Magwaza, the mother confronted the woman over the phone.

“The mother contacted the nanny asking her where she was as she had not consented to the child being taken from the house,” Magwaza said. But the nanny’s responses only deepened the panic. She first claimed to be in Empangeni, yet offered no credible explanation for taking the child without permission.

Magwaza explained further: “Communication between the mother and the nanny suggested that the mother needed to go alone to Empangeni to fetch her child.” Sensing something was terribly wrong, the mother refused to comply and instead reported the case at Durban Central Police Station.

Investigators quickly mobilized, and what they uncovered painted a startling picture. The nanny, police allege, had been deceiving her boyfriend into believing she had given birth to his child. She reportedly used the infant to support this falsehood, collecting R2,500 a month from the man under the pretense that it was for the baby’s care.

The discovery added urgency to the case. In the early hours of Sunday morning, police executed an operation in Empangeni, where they located the suspect and safely recovered the baby.

“The child was found unharmed and has been taken for precautionary medical examination,” Magwaza confirmed. The woman was taken into custody and is expected to appear before the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The case has sparked widespread concern over the vulnerabilities of families employing domestic caregivers, while also highlighting how deception and financial desperation can fuel disturbing crimes.