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FG Awards Contract For PH-Eleme Road
The Federal Government has approved the award of contract for the upgrading of the 15km of the East-West Road Section III: Port Harcourt (Eleme Junction) to Onne Port Junction Road in Rivers State.
Briefing newsmen, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs,at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting, Dr. Steve Oru, said the contract which is awarded in favour of Reynolds Construction Company in the sum of N43,869,381,730.23 with a completion period of 18 months.
According to him, when the original contract for the dualisation of the East West Road Section III (Port Harcourt to Eket) was awarded in 2006, the 15km section between Port Harcourt and Onne Port Junction, which was dualised in 1999, was in fair condition and was therefore not included in the major reconstruction.
Chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, the FEC also approved contracts totalling N100.2 billion for the rehabilitation and re-designing of some road projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja, the East-West Road in Niger Delta as well as the multi-million naira Abuja Millennium Towers and a Cultural Centre and the provision of portable water for some parts of Kwara State.
Also speaking to the press on these contracts alongside his counterparts from the FCT, Bala Mohammed; Niger Delta Affairs, Stephen Oru; and Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, disclosed that the FEC was briefed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on the introduction of the commemorative N100 banknotes to celebrate Nigeria’s Centenary.
Giving details on the project, the FCT minister disclosed that the Council approved contract for the construction of one service carriageway (14km) of inner Northern Expressway (INEX) from Ring Road 111 to Ring Road IV Abuja Industrial Park in favour of Messrs. Salini Nigerian Ltd, in the sum of N7,179,322,294.15 with a completion period of 24 months
He explained that the Inner Northern Expressway was one of the key planned expressways provided in the Abuja master-plan connecting to the ring roads from the central area through phases I, II, III and IV, terminating at the outer Northern Expressway (ONEX).
Mohammed further said that the road is being undertaken in phases with the right hand service carriage way already developed between the Ring Road II and Ring Road III bounding Karimo District.
According to him: “The Council approved another award of contract for the provision of access road and engineering infrastructure to plot 1458 and adjoining plots around Hot FM in Gudu District in the sum of N1,794,778,172.88 in favour of Messers Sageto Limited with a completion period of 17 months.
“The Council also approved the award of contract for the extension of Inner Southern Expressway from Southern Parkway (58/59) to Ring Road II in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in favour of Messers CGC Nig Ltd in the sum of N43,458,849,973.94 with a completion period of 30 months.”
The FCT minister also disclosed the approval for the upward review of the contract sum for the provision of engineering infrastructure at Wuye District in favour of Messrs Arab Contractors Nigeria Limited in the sum of N3,431,290,231.20 thereby revising the contract sum from N39, 681,137,736,46 to N43,112,427,967.67
He said the upward review was to accommodate the construction of a flyover bridge at Wuye District, the interaction of Arterial Road N1/Ring Road 1 being Nnamdi Azikiwe Road, as additional work to the contract with completion period of 20 months.
Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, also disclosed at the briefing that FEC approved a memo presented by her ministry for the revised estimated total cost of the contract for the construction and upgrading of the Molete Water Works in Kwara State in favour of Turning Point Engineering Limited in the sum of N117,483,450.
On the contract awards, FCT minister explained that an ýupward review of contract for provision of engineering infrastructure at Wuye District to the tune of ýN3.4 billion was approved by the cabinet.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long trailers heading for Kano as it intensified efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.
The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.
According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.
Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”
He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.
Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”
He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.
“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.
According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.
He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”
The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”
He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has denied claims that it has commenced registration for a purported ?50,000 National Support Allowance.
The ministry, in a public notice posted on its official X handle, yesterday, described messages, links and websites advertising the alleged programme as fraudulent.
It urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and verify information only through official government channels.
“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has NOT commenced registration for any ?50,000 National Support Allowance,” the ministry said.
It added, “Disregard fraudulent messages, links and websites claiming otherwise. Verify any info only through official govt channels.”
The alert is in response to a circulating scam flyer that falsely claims the program is ongoing under President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
The fake advertisement, which includes text in Hausa and English, directs victims to a suspicious website (kluspz.com) for applications.
The ministry’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over digital fraud targeting vulnerable populations seeking social support.
Similar scams have previously surfaced around programs like N-Power, prompting questions from citizens in replies to the official post.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its preparedness for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, hinted at this while making his remarks at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
He advised workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.
According to the NLC president, “The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
“Accordingly, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”
Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.
“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.
“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.
Ajaero further stated: “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.
“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”