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NGO Laments Abandoned NDDC Projects In Ondo

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3 years ago

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A non-governmental orgnisation, Ondo State Budget Transparency and Accountability Platform, has lamented the high level of abandoned Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) projects in Ondo State.
Coordinator and Leader of the platform, Mr Jerry Akintomide, at a news briefing on Sunday in Ondo town, advised residents to speak up concerning abandoned NDDC and government projects in their locality.
Akintomide said with support from Social Action and McAuthur Foundation, the aim was to increase awareness of citizens on the number of abandoned NDDC projects.
Akintomide said Ondo West and Ondo East Local Governments’ were used as a case study, urged the citizens to hold their representatives accountable by asking questions on budget implementation.
“It is important for them to speak up now because Ondo state is part of NDDC states,” he stated.
Another leader of the Platform, Mr Alo Martins, noted that the sum of N103.6 million was approved for capital projects in the two local government areas for five different projects across three subsectors in 2019.
Martins listed the subsectors as; Education, Canalisation/Reclamation and Water supply.
“Signboards of proposed projects or better still awarded contracts showing the names of the projects, contractor(s), and duration are common sights. Weeds were found to have taken over most of the project sites.
“A critical look at the projects revealed that the rehabilitation and furnishing of school building at Ondo Boys High School, Ondo West, which the sum of N15 million was approved, yet the project is not in existence as the old school building is still in there with a section of the building fallen.
“Construction of solar powered borehole, proposed to be situated at Moferere market, in Ondo West, record has it that the sum of N7.17 million was approved, however, the project is nowhere to be found.
“It is on record that the sum of N37.5 million was approved for the canalisation of Okuludu/Odojomu/Odosida River in Ondo West Local Government Area, though the project was started, but not yet completed as the dredging stopped halfway,” he said.
Martins noted that the group was openly calling for action and information from NDDC after the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted to the NDDC headquarters and Ondo State offices and were not responded to after the stipulated period.
A teacher in Ondo town, Mr Tunde Alex,  said “it was disheartening that millions would be earnmarked for a project just to be abandoned”.

Alex called on citizens to speak up and challenge the accountability of the project, stressing that “it was time Ondo people take the bull by the horn”.

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Firefighters battle New Year Day inferno in Abuja, several states

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5 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Federal Fire Service FFS entered the New Year on full operational alert, tackling multiple fire outbreaks across the country from midnight into the early hours of January 1, 2026, in what officials described as one of the busiest festive-season deployments in recent years.
The intensified nationwide response followed a December 2025 directive issued by the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, who had ordered that no firefighter should proceed on leave throughout the holidays.
According to a statement by the National Public Relations Officer and Head of Corporate Services of the FFS, DCF Paul Abraham, the no-leave policy proved critical as the Service moved swiftly to contain fires in several states.
The Federal Capital Territory FCT recorded its first fire incident of the year barely twenty-three minutes after midnight when flames erupted at Cake Hot Restaurant located within River Plate Park, Wuse, Abuja.
Abraham said fire crews from the Federal Fire Service and the FCT Fire Service arrived promptly and were able to stop the blaze before it could spread through the popular recreational centre.
While a section of the garden area was destroyed, no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded.
Officials said property worth an estimated ?1.5 billion was saved, although losses were placed at about ?500 million.
“Preliminary findings suggested that the fire was triggered by objects thrown during New Year celebrations, reinforcing long-standing warnings over the dangers posed by fireworks during the harmattan season”, the Service said.
The Controller General had repeatedly urged Nigerians to avoid fireworks, candles and open flames indoors, warning that the dry winds characteristic of the season allow fires to spread rapidly.
He also warned the public about electrical faults and power surges and advised that electrical appliances be switched off and unplugged when not in use or when occupants leave their homes, stressing that overloading sockets and extension boxes remains a significant cause of domestic fires.
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Enugu North LG chairman presents ?10.8bn 2026 Budget, prioritises roads …Security, Healthcare, Human Capital Development

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5 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area in Enugu State, Dr. Ibenaku Harford Onoh, has presented a Ten Billion Eight Hundred Million Naira (?10.8bn) 2026 budget to the legislative council of the local government.
The budget, tagged “Budget of Continued Growth and Consolidation,” was presented on Wednesday during a plenary session attended by councillors, department heads, and other stakeholders.
Dr. Onoh explained that the 2026 budget is designed to consolidate achievements recorded in 2025 while scaling up development across the council’s 13 wards. Priority areas include road infrastructure, grassroots security, healthcare delivery, youth empowerment, and digital governance.
He also reviewed the 2025 budget performance, highlighting significant revenue growth and successful completion of key projects. Notably, the council’s internally generated revenue more than doubled, attributed to the introduction of digital revenue collection platforms and other innovative measures.
Among the 2025 achievements, Dr. Onoh mentioned the reconstruction of major roads at European Quarters, Hilltop, Coal Camp, and Ukwa Street, Ihewuishi, as well as the upgrade of the local security architecture through the reorganisation of the neighbourhood watch into “The City Watch.”
On the 2026 budget, the chairman stated that projected revenue would come from statutory allocations, VAT, internally generated revenue, and counterpart funding through public-private partnerships.
He noted that capital expenditure would take the larger share of the budget, with over half allocated to the economic sector. Planned projects include:
Completion of transport terminals at Aria Market
Construction and reconstruction of urban roads
Establishment of two sports centres
Healthcare interventions
Youth skills development programmes.
Dr. Onoh emphasised that the projects, policies, and programmes outlined in the budget are aimed at complementing the initiatives of Governor Peter Ndubisi Mbah, who is setting standards for local government councils to follow.
Responding, the Leader of the Legislative Council, Rt. Hon. Chizoba Nnamani, said the budget would be carefully scrutinised in the interest of residents before its passage.
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Christians Convert To Islam or die As ISWAP burns down Christian village

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5 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Christians in Adamawa have been asked to Convert to Islam or die as commanded by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
.The ISWAP forcedly burnt down Christian village in Adamawa Nigeria as reported on January 1, 2026.
The Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, has continued to wreak havoc on Christian communities in the Northeast, Nigeria.
This comes as ISWAP burned down a Christian village in Adamawa State.
A security expert, Brant Philip, disclosed this on Thursday in a viral video released by the terrorists.
“ISWAP released an image of one of the Christian villages in Adamawa State burning, alongside a statement saying that all Christians in Nigeria are legitimate targets, and they have an opportunity to “spare their blood” by converting to Islam or paying the jizyah tax to ISWAP,” Brant Philip wrote on X.
The move is perceived as retaliation for recent joint airstrikes by the Nigerian and United States military against a terrorist enclave in Sokoto, Nigeria.
Recall that five days ago, United States President Donald Trump announced that the US military launched airstrikes against terrorists in Sokoto State.
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