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NAFDAC makes clarifications on safety of Nestlé Infant formula amid UK recall

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has assured Nigerians that Nestlé infant formula products approved for sale in the country are safe and not affected by the recent voluntary recall announced in the United Kingdom.

In a post on its official X account, the agency explained that the recalled products were not made for the Nigerian market and are not permitted for sale in the country.

“NAFDAC wishes to reassure Nigerians that all Nestlé infant formulae approved for sale in Nigeria are safe and unaffected by the recent voluntary recall announced by Nestlé UK,” the agency stated.

NAFDAC clarified that none of the recalled batches originated from Nigeria, adding that the products were neither registered by the agency nor authorised for distribution within the country.

“The recalled batches did not originate from Nigeria and were not registered or approved by NAFDAC for distribution,” the statement said.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to public health, particularly the protection of infants, stressing that strict regulatory controls remain in place.

“NAFDAC continues to maintain strict oversight to safeguard the health and safety of Nigerian infants and the general public,” it added.

It also urged Nigerians to remain calm, assuring the public that it would continue to closely monitor all regulated products to ensure they meet required safety standards.

admin by — January 13, 2026 in News 0
Outrage as Saudi Airlines abandons passengers in Abuja

Saudi Arabian AirlineSaudi Airlines has come under intense criticism after abandoning 401 Kano-bound passengers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for close to 48 hours, triggering tension and security concerns.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that bad weather in Kano forced the airline to divert to Abuja, but noted that it failed to make adequate arrangements to convey the passengers to their final destination.

This was disclosed in a statement posted on Monday by the NCAA’s spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, on his verified X handle, in which he said he was personally involved in efforts to de-escalate the situation.

Achimugu described the episode as one of the most intense moments of his professional life. “Yesterday, I had to make a U-turn while heading to my barber’s shop after receiving reports of a valid threat of extreme violence from stranded Saudi Airlines passengers in Abuja,” he said

According to him, several other airlines also diverted to Abuja due to the same weather-related conditions. However, while those airlines made alternative arrangements for their passengers, Saudi Airlines reportedly returned to its base without ensuring that the affected passengers reached their final destination.

Achimugu recounted standing among more than 200 visibly angry passengers, many of whom had waited for hours without clear information on when or how they would continue their journey.

“I stood amidst over 200 angry passengers, pacifying, reprimanding, and resolving.

This is the most adrenaline-rushing part of my job. It requires tact, firmness, wisdom, and teamwork. But it is risky. Some passengers are extremely violent,” he said.

In one particularly tense moment, Achimugu said an irate passenger threatened to assault him.

The statement added, “I looked at him. Initially, I was angry. But I saw the worry in his eyes and decided to handle him differently. We ended up talking. We became best friends. He even invited me to his Lagos residence.”

While acknowledging that Saudi Airlines does not have an operational base in Abuja, a factor that complicated logistics, the NCAA maintained that the situation could have been handled more professionally.

Achimugu disclosed that he later met with the Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, where he stressed that no airline would be permitted to operate in Nigeria in disregard of the country’s consumer protection regulations.

Commending the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Regional General Manager, Achimugu added that the stranded passengers were eventually airlifted in batches through three UMZA flights.

“The first aircraft departed Abuja for Kano with 74 passengers and four crew members. The second carried 73 passengers and four crew members. The third and final flight conveyed 34 passengers. In total, 189 passengers were successfully transported to Kano,” he stated.

Saudi Airlines, according to the NCAA, has committed to compensating the affected passengers.

“This brings to an end a disruption of almost 48 hours that began as force majeure, transitioned into poor passenger handling, and ended with a strong display of effective teamwork, from the minister to the DGCA and down to our hardworking Consumer Protection Officers,” Achimugu said.

admin by — January 13, 2026 in Business 0
Three bank mergers loom ahead of recapitalisation deadline –Report

CBNThree bank mergers are anticipated early this year as lenders scramble to comply with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s new minimum capital requirements before the 31 March 2026 recapitalisation deadline.

This projection was made by the rating firm, DataPro, in its 2026 Banking Sector Prospects in Nigeria, as it also highlighted some of the threats to the sector.

By the end of 2025, most tier-1 institutions had already met the new capital threshold, and more have announced that they have met the target MCR in this New Year, leaving smaller banks under mounting regulatory and market pressure to shore up their balance sheets.

Analysing the banking sector prospects for 2026, DataPro’s in-house expert and analyst on Enterprise Risk Management, Idris Shittu, posited, “By the end of 2025, major banks will have successfully met the minimum capital threshold required by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Meanwhile, Tier-2 banks are under increasing pressure to comply, with three significant mergers expected by early 2026 as institutions scramble to meet the 31 March recapitalisation deadline.

“This regulatory push has spurred an active M&A environment, but it brings with it considerable risks. Post-merger integration challenges, including IT system harmonisation, cultural alignment, and the migration of Non-Performing Loans, could strain newly merged entities, especially among smaller banks. The looming deadline has also sparked ‘War Room’ discussions focused on deal execution and risk mitigation.”

Shittu maintained that the sector will be facing triple threats in the New Year, which demand agility and operational resilience from banks across the country. These threats include regulatory tightening, as a high Cash Reserve Ratio continues to restrict liquidity. Capital pressure as the recapitalisation deadline drives consolidation but also heightens risks around merger execution and integration and technological disruption from rapid fintech innovation, which would demand urgent modernisation and digital transformation from traditional banks to stay competitive.

The ERM expert anticipates that banks would continue to prioritise fee-based income streams over traditional lending activities to deal with the 45 per cent Cash Reserve Ratio for commercial banks. This CRR effectively sterilises nearly half of the naira deposits and severely limits liquidity.

On the disruption brought on by the agile fintechs, Shittu said, “Technology continues to reshape Nigeria’s banking sector, with fintech innovators like Moniepoint and Opay aggressively capturing market share, particularly among SMEs and retail customers. In response, 2026 is poised to become the year Nigerian banks evolve beyond traditional banking to compete as lifestyle ‘super-apps’.

“These super-apps aim to integrate services such as flight bookings, food delivery, and other daily conveniences directly into banking platforms to enhance customer retention and engagement. However, traditional banks face an agility challenge due to slow IT procurement cycles and legacy core systems, risking a continued exodus of younger users to nimbler fintech rivals. To keep pace, banks are expected to innovate rapidly, either through strategic fintech acquisitions or by spinning off autonomous digital subsidiaries capable of operating with fintech speed and flexibility.”

On the outlook for the sector in 2026, Shittu projects a decline in the number of banks in the country, saying, “By the end of 2026, the Nigerian banking industry is expected to consolidate significantly, shrinking in number. While this consolidation promises a more resilient banking system capable of underwriting larger transactions and supporting Nigeria’s ambition toward a $1tn economy, integration risks loom large.

“Past consolidation efforts, such as those in 2005, highlight the potential pitfalls of IT system failures and cultural clashes. Particularly challenging is the merger of conservative Tier-1 banks with aggressive Tier-2 acquirers, which could cause decision-making gridlock and operational disruptions.”

The expert warned that success in the consolidation phase will depend heavily on effective due diligence around asset quality and cultural fit, as well as robust post-merger integration planning.

PwC, which listed the finance sector as one of the sectors to drive growth in 2026 in its Nigeria Economic Outlook – January 2026, holds a more optimistic view of the sector.

PwC said, “Regulatory initiatives such as bank recapitalisation mandates and evolving frameworks for fintech and digital financial services are further drawing institutional interest, while secondary listings by major banks on international exchanges demonstrate growing cross-border investor engagement and confidence.

“In 2026, strong demand for modern financial products, credit expansion, and advanced risk management solutions, combined with projected capital market growth to N262tn, driven by anticipated listings of Dangote Refinery and NNPC, will deepen liquidity, attract new investors, and sustain interest across banking, fintech, and insurance.”

On the tech front, PwC added, “In 2025, banks and fintechs accelerated AI and blockchain adoption to personalise services, automate risk management, and enhance fraud detection, while major lenders deployed AI chatbots and advanced analytics to streamline operations. The insurance sector embraced insurtech, with the National Insurance Commission and fintechs collaborating on digital platforms to boost product innovation and access.

admin by — January 13, 2026 in Business 0
NGX begins week higher with N745bn gain

Nigerian Exchange LimitedThe Nigerian Exchange Limited opened the new trading week on a positive note on Monday as strong buying interest across key stocks lifted total market capitalisation by N745bn, reflecting improved investor sentiment in the equities market.

At the close of trading, the equities market capitalisation rose to N104.52tn from N103.78tn recorded at the previous session, while the All-Share Index advanced by 946.61 points, or 0.58 per cent, to close at 163,244.69 points from 162,298.08 points.

Market activity also improved markedly. A total of 1.15bn shares valued at N19.21bn were traded in 59,326 deals, representing an increase of 84 per cent in volume, a four per cent rise in turnover and a 35 per cent improvement in the number of deals compared with the preceding trading day.

Trading was broadly positive, with 128 listed equities participating in the session. Forty-nine stocks closed higher, while twenty equities ended the day lower, underscoring a bullish undertone in the market.

On the gainers’ table, E-Tranzact International topped the list after its share price appreciated by 10 per cent to close at N16.50. Red Star Express also gained 10 per cent to settle at N11.55, while McNichols rose by 10 per cent to close at N6.05. UPDC advanced by 10 per cent to N5.50, RT Briscoe added 10 per cent to close at N3.96, and Deap Capital Management and Trust appreciated by 10 per cent to end the session at N3.30 per share.

Conversely, trading closed on a weaker note for some stocks, led by Champion Breweries, which recorded the highest decline, shedding 8.51 per cent to close at N15.05 per share. Eunisell Interlinked followed with a loss of 8.01 per cent to close at N156.20, while Ikeja Hotel declined by eight per cent to settle at N36.80. Guinea Insurance dropped by 7.30 per cent to N1.27, Omatek Ventures fell by 3.12 per cent to close at N1.24, and Lasaco Assurance declined by 2.99 per cent to end the session at N2.60 per share.

In terms of trading activity, Sovereign Trust Insurance recorded the highest volume of shares traded, with over 307m units exchanging hands. Fidelity Bank followed with approximately 158 million shares, while Linkage Assurance and Mutual Benefits Assurance also featured prominently among the most actively traded stocks.

By value, Fidelity Bank led transactions with shares worth N3.14bn traded during the session. Aradel Holdings, Zenith Bank, Eunisell Interlinked and Sovereign Trust Insurance also recorded significant value turnover, contributing to overall market liquidity.

Analysts attributed the market’s positive performance to renewed bargain hunting in select stocks, particularly in the banking and insurance sectors, as well as improved confidence following recent gains in market capitalisation above the N100tn mark.

They noted that sustained buying interest, supported by expectations of full-year corporate earnings and portfolio rebalancing by investors, could help maintain the upward momentum in the near term, although intermittent profit-taking is likely to remain.

The NGX’s strong start to the week reinforces its position as one of the best-performing markets in the region, with market capitalisation firmly above N104tn, signalling continued resilience in Nigeria’s equities market despite prevailing macroeconomic challenges.

admin by — January 13, 2026 in Business 0
DisCos billed customers N255bn, collected N210bn in October – NERC

NERCElectricity distribution companies across the country billed customers a total of N255.19bn for power supplied in October 2025, but collected N210.92bn, leading to combined losses from unbilled energy and unpaid bills that continue to strain the liquidity of the power sector.

This is according to the latest commercial performance factsheet released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The NERC report showed that the 11 DisCos received electricity worth N303.85bn from the national grid in October, representing an 8.73 per cent increase over September. However, they were unable to fully convert the energy received into billable revenue, as the value of energy billed declined by 5.65 per cent to N255.19bn.

This left a gap of N48.66bn attributable to electricity supplied but not billed to customers during the month. As a result, industry-wide billing efficiency dropped to 83.99 per cent, a 2.45 percentage-point decline from September, meaning that more than 16 per cent of power delivered to DisCos was never captured in customer bills.

Despite the setback in billing, revenue collection performance improved. Total collections rose by 7.48 per cent month-on-month to N210.92bn, lifting collection efficiency to 82.66 per cent, up 1.40 percentage points from September. NERC explained that instances where collection efficiency exceeded 100 per cent in some DisCos were largely due to the recovery of outstanding debts from previous months.

However, even with the improvement in collections, the sector continued to record significant shortfalls.

Of the N255.19bn billed in October, DisCos failed to collect N44.27bn, compounding the losses from unbilled energy. Taken together, the weaknesses in billing and collection translated into a recovery efficiency of 82.49 per cent, reflecting the proportion of allowed revenue that was actually realised by operators.

The commission’s data showed that while the allowed average tariff for October stood at N116.25 per kilowatt-hour, the actual average collection dropped to about N95.85/kWh, representing a 1.23 per cent decline from September. This widening gap between regulated tariffs and realised revenue continues to fuel liquidity pressures across the electricity value chain, affecting remittances to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and other market participants.

A breakdown of the October figures revealed sharp contrasts in performance across the DisCos. Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company delivered the strongest overall performance during the month.

It billed N41.26bn out of N43.72bn worth of energy received, achieving a billing efficiency of 94.36 per cent. The utility collected N42.11bn, exceeding its billings and pushing collection efficiency to 102.07 per cent, while recovery efficiency climbed to 108.17 per cent.

Eko DisCo also remained among the strongest performers, despite a slight deterioration in billing. It billed N40.29bn out of N42.10bn received, posting a billing efficiency of 95.71 per cent, though this was 3.33 percentage points lower than in September. It collected N37.67bn, resulting in a collection efficiency of 93.50 per cent and a recovery efficiency of 101.65 per cent.

Abuja DisCo received electricity valued at N46.32bn in October but billed only N38.93bn, translating to a billing efficiency of 84.05 per cent, a sharp 5.75 percentage-point decline from the previous month. Despite weaker billing, it posted a relatively strong collection efficiency of 88.35 per cent, collecting N34.39bn, while recovery efficiency stood at 88.30 per cent.

Port Harcourt DisCo billed 80.32 per cent of the energy it received, slightly lower than September’s performance. However, its collection efficiency improved to 87.07 per cent, and recovery efficiency rose to 82.97 per cent, placing it among the better-performing utilities in the southern region.

In contrast, several northern DisCos continued to struggle with deep commercial inefficiencies. Jos DisCo recorded the weakest overall performance in the market. Although its billing efficiency improved marginally to 84.89 per cent, it collected only N5.26bn out of N13.50bn billed. This left collection efficiency at just 38.98 per cent, down 18.19 percentage points, while recovery efficiency fell sharply to 42.28 per cent.

Kaduna DisCo posted a notable improvement in billing efficiency, which rose by 8.69 percentage points to 84.62 per cent. However, collections remained weak at 43.03 per cent, and recovery efficiency stood at 43.70 per cent, highlighting persistent commercial challenges.

Enugu DisCo recorded a deterioration in billing performance. Out of N26.11bn worth of energy received, it billed N20.95bn, resulting in a billing efficiency of 80.23 per cent, down 4.23 percentage points. Collection efficiency improved to 80.74 per cent, although recovery efficiency slipped to 77.67 per cent.

Ibadan DisCo showed one of the strongest improvements in collections. While billing efficiency declined slightly to 73.51 per cent, collection efficiency surged by 10.10 percentage points to 84.49 per cent, with N22.56bn collected. Recovery efficiency rose significantly to 74.16 per cent.

Benin, Yola, and Kano DisCos also remained in the amber zone for recovery performance. Benin DisCo billed only N19.84bn out of N30.38bn received, leaving billing efficiency at 65.32 per cent.

Its collection efficiency fell to 83.72 per cent, while recovery efficiency dropped to 65.16 per cent. Kano DisCo achieved one of the highest billing efficiencies at 98.05 per cent but collected just 58.67 per cent of its billings, with recovery efficiency at 68.65 per cent. Yola DisCo recorded billing efficiency of 66.03 per cent and a collection efficiency of 69.35 per cent, leaving overall performance fragile.

The October performance comes amid ongoing regulatory and structural reforms aimed at improving the financial sustainability of Nigeria’s power sector. NERC has repeatedly stressed the need for improved metering, reduction in energy theft, and stricter enforcement of commercial performance benchmarks.

Despite recent tariff adjustments and reforms under the amended Electricity Act, the latest data suggest that unresolved challenges in energy accounting, customer enumeration, and revenue protection continue to drain billions of naira monthly from the sector, raising concerns about the sustainability of ongoing reforms and the stability of the electricity market.

admin by — January 13, 2026 in Business 0
2027: If ADC don’t present Peter Obi, it’ll be worse than coming together – Ayo Fayose

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has said that the African Democratic Congress, ADC, risks political irrelevance if it fails to present former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, as its candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking during an exclusive interview on Arise Television, Fayose described Obi as the major political attraction within the ADC, insisting that other figures in the party lack the capacity to generate significant electoral traction.

According to him, Obi remains the only factor capable of giving the party national relevance, adding that his political influence was evident during the 2023 elections when his emergence as the Labour Party presidential candidate helped the party secure seats in the House of Representatives despite its previously limited national presence.

Fayose argued that Obi’s appeal transcends party platforms, noting that he would attract similar support even if he contested on the platform of another lesser-known party.

He, however, clarified that he was not predicting whether Obi would win or lose the 2027 presidential election, but maintained that ADC’s fortunes would be worse than its current state if the party failed to field him as its candidate.

The former governor added that Obi remains central to ADC’s relevance in the 2027 electoral contest, warning that sidelining him would significantly weaken the party’s political standing.

He said: “Peter Obi is the life in ADC. I didn’t say there are no other human beings in ADC. I’m saying others are largely spent forces.

“Let’s say Obi didn’t go to ADC, let Obi go to another party. Let’s say Obi is in Accord. Obi will become… I’m saying it: Obi is the only traction, Obi is the only meaning, Obi is the only factor, Obi is the only person in ADC that matters.

“And if Obi had not gone to ADC and has gone…when Obi went to Labour, Labour that was never known people won elections to the House of Reps.

“I’m not saying Obi will win this election. I’m not saying Obi will not win this election, but I’m telling you, even if they don’t fill Obi, if ADC fails to fill Obi, their case will be worse than their coming together.”

admin by — January 12, 2026 in News 0
Lagos APC hits Tambuwal over ‘Nigeria in peril, needs salvation’ remark

Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has accused former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal of being an “alarmist” for saying “Nigeria is in peril and needs urgent salvation.”

It said Tambuwal’s remark is a case of misplaced moral outrage because when he was entrusted with responsibility, he failed to deploy the very “salvation” he now theatrically advertises.

The spokesman of the state arm of the party, Seye Oladejo, urged Tambuwal and his cohort to rise above political theatre.

In a statement he signed, Oladejo said If salvation is truly the concern, it should begin with humility, restitution, and support for reforms that move the nation forward, noting that “Anything short of this is noise-loud, convenient, and ultimately hollow.”

He said: “The Lagos APC has taken note of the alarmist remarks credited to Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, wherein he declared that “Nigeria is in peril and needs urgent salvation.”

“We consider this intervention a classic case of misplaced moral outrage by a principal actor who, when entrusted with responsibility, failed to deploy the very “salvation” he now theatrically advertises.

“At moments like this, statesmanship demands introspection and restitution-not grandstanding. Nigerians remember the years when Tambuwal occupied strategic positions in government and the dividends of leadership expected at those times.

“Sadly, rather than offering a candid reckoning with his record or apologising for missed opportunities, he has chosen to sermonise from a pedestal of selective amnesia.

“More instructively, his recent 60th birthday colloquial presented a rare lifeline to truly confess, seek forgiveness, and embrace restitution from a nation that gave him so much but received next to nothing in return. It was an auspicious occasion that should have lent itself to sober reflection and an honest recap of stewardship.

“Instead, that opportunity was cleverly sidestepped. Tales of sainthood ring hollow when public service records and recent legal tussles over graft remain unresolved footnotes that were conspicuously omitted.

“Nigeria still bleeds from years of exploitation and poor leadership by individuals who once occupied positions of trust. To now speak of “peril” without acknowledging one’s role in deepening the nation’s wounds is not courage; it is convenience.

“It bears restating that Nigeria’s challenges did not materialise overnight, nor were they authored by the present administration alone.

“Many of those now brandishing megaphones of despair were active participants-if not architects-of the policy inertia, political brinkmanship, and economic drift that constrained national progress for years. To proclaim peril without accepting culpability is to insult the intelligence of Nigerians.”

admin by — January 12, 2026 in News 0
Seme Customs records 117% revenue growth, generates N15.6bn in 2025

Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Seme Area Command, recorded a remarkable financial performance in 2025, closing the year with a 117 per cent increase in revenue generation compared to the previous year.

The Command generated a total of N15.6 billion in 2025, a sharp rise from the N7.2 billion realised in 2024.

The surge was capped by its strongest monthly performance on record in December 2025, when revenue collections peaked at N3.63 billion.

In a statement issued by the Superintendent of Customs and Public Relations Officer of the Seme Area Command on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, the impressive outcome was attributed largely to the successful implementation of the One-Stop Shop, OSS, initiative introduced by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

According to the statement, the OSS framework significantly enhanced operational coordination, improved trade facilitation and strengthened engagement with key stakeholders, thereby boosting efficiency and revenue inflow at the border command.

The Command also credited part of its success to the rationalisation of checkpoints along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.

Adenuga explained that the reduction of checkpoints to the two locations approved by the Federal Government eased the movement of legitimate goods, reduced delays for traders and transporters, and created a more conducive environment for lawful cross-border trade.

Beyond revenue generation, the Seme Area Command said it sustained strong enforcement efforts against smuggling and other illicit activities throughout the year. In December 2025 alone, officers of the Command seized 685 parcels of Cannabis sativa (marijuana), 495 packs of Tramadol and 2,000 packs of Super Power Sildenafil tablets (300mg), an unregulated and excessively high-dosage sexual enhancement drug.

The Command noted that the seizures were the result of intelligence-driven operations, intensified border patrols, effective risk profiling and improved collaboration with other security and regulatory agencies.

It reaffirmed its commitment to balancing trade facilitation with strict enforcement, stressing that efforts would be sustained to protect the nation’s economy, public health and security while supporting legitimate commerce.

admin by — January 12, 2026 in News 0
Lagos: Nigerian govt approves partial demolition of Iddo Bridge

Plans have been concluded for the partial demolition of the Iddo Bridge in Lagos, with reconstruction works set to commence next week as part of efforts to overhaul the ageing infrastructure.

The Regional Manager of Julius Berger Nigeria, Mr Thomas Christl, disclosed this on Sunday during an inspection of the bridge by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi.

Christl explained that structural assessments revealed severe damage to key sections of the bridge, necessitating the replacement of three spans to ensure safety and durability.

“Three spans of the existing Iddo Bridge are heavily damaged and must be replaced,” he said.

According to him, the reconstruction will be executed in phases to limit traffic disruption.

He noted that the two carriageways would be separated, allowing work to proceed on one section while traffic is diverted to the other.

“What we are doing now is to separate the two directions. By next week, traffic will be diverted to one side of the bridge, while one half will be demolished and rebuilt,” Christl explained.

He added that once reconstruction of the first section is completed, traffic would be redirected to the new portion to allow demolition and rebuilding of the second half.

“By the end of March, traffic will likely be moved onto the newly completed side, after which the remaining section will be demolished and reconstructed,” he said.

Christl further disclosed that complementary works are already ongoing beneath the bridge, including upgrades to the drainage system and underpass.

“We have commenced drainage works, and the outfall into the lagoon has already been completed,” he said.

He explained that after completing the drainage, the soil beneath the bridge would be excavated to lower the road level, thereby increasing clearance and preventing trucks from crashing into the structure, a major cause of previous damage.

Commenting on the state of the bridge, Senator Umahi attributed part of the deterioration to a fire incident triggered by illegal activities under the bridge, which affected several spans.

“Six spans were affected by the fire. What we have done is to re-asphalt one carriageway so that traffic can be fully diverted there, after which three spans on the other carriageway will be removed,” Umahi said.

“Once that is completed, traffic will be diverted back, and we will proceed to demolish and reconstruct the second carriageway,” he added.

The minister disclosed that the reconstruction project, estimated at about N15 billion, is expected to be completed by June.

He explained that one of the major design improvements involves increasing the bridge’s headroom from about 4.5 metres to the minimum required clearance of 5.6 metres.

“That clearance is critical, and we are working towards achieving it,” Umahi said.

He expressed satisfaction with the progress of work so far, noting that a bypass route has already been constructed to ease movement.

“Julius Berger is doing well, but I do not want any delays,” the minister said, adding that he had directed engineers to closely monitor the project and provide regular updates to ensure timely completion.

Umahi also assured that upon completion, the Federal Government would deploy closed-circuit television cameras beneath and on top of the bridge to enhance security, similar to measures already implemented on the Third Mainland Bridge.

admin by — January 12, 2026 in News 0
EFCC chair dismisses corruption claims, says ‘I’ve never taken bribe’

Ola OlukoyedeThe Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has challenged Nigerians to publicly come forward with evidence if he has ever been involved in fraudulent activities, insisting that he has never benefited from corruption throughout his years in public service.

Olukoyede made the declaration during an interview with Channels Television aired on Sunday, where he dismissed claims linking him to fraud or illicit enrichment.

“I’d like to tell Nigerians here, with every sense of responsibility, all through my service in the public sector, as Chief of Staff, in the EFCC, as Secretary in the EFCC, and I make bold to say that I’ve never been involved in any fraudulent activity,” he said.

The EFCC chairman further stated, “I’ve never been involved in any fraudulent activities. I serve as Chief of Staff, no Nigerian, and I challenge anybody to say, ‘Oh, this man has ever collected one bottle of coke or one naira to influence my sense of judgement in carrying out my responsibility.’”

Addressing concerns about asset management during his time as EFCC Secretary, Olukoyede said he handled seized assets without personal gain.

“As Secretary, I’ve got to manage assets here and to dispose assets. I never—you can’t trace any asset to me, nor any member of my family, as a matter of principle. And no Nigerian can say I collected one dime because of carrying out my activities,” he said.

He questioned the basis of the allegations against him, adding, “So the issue of fraudulent attachment, I don’t know where that would have come from. And I’ve told you now, I’ve never benefited from any of these assets. Never.”

When asked about his wealth, Olukoyede said Nigerians were free to verify his claims.

“I mean, Nigeria should go and investigate that. So I don’t understand the concept of being a rich man,” he
said.

Responding to a question on asset declaration, the EFCC chairman said he complied fully with the law at every stage of his career.

“Of course I did that. I mean, I said that to the public. That was the first thing I did. I did it as Chief of Staff. I did it as Secretary. I did it as Chairman,” he said.

He added, “I remember Nigerians also remember that I asked all my staff to also declare their assets. So look, it’s something that anybody can verify.”

Reiterating his challenge, Olukoyede said, “I’m telling you, I’ve never been involved in any fraudulent activity. Whether as Chief of Staff or as Secretary, and I’m telling Nigerians, if you have ever offered me a bribe, and I collected, come out and say it.”

Asked if he considered himself upright, he replied, “To the best of my knowledge. I do my work with every sense of diligence, and I do my work with every sense of commitment and loyalty to the mandate.”

admin by — January 12, 2026 in News 0