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BREAKING: Minister of Works, David Umahi responds to Atiku over Lagos-Calabar Costal Road contract, says the contract followed due process

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Minister of Works, David Umahi, in a note, said the 700-kilometre, 10-lane Lagos-Calabar highway was conceived as an Engineering, Procurement and Construction plus Financing (EPC+F) project.

– Umahi said the model (EPC+F) entails part-funding by the Federal Government.

– Umahi said the approval process went through the Bureau of Public Procurement (BBP) after consideration by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as prescribed by law.

– Umahi added that the project is an unsolicited bid on EPC+F.

– Umahi explained that under this model, the investor provides all designs, part of the financing and construction while the Federal Government provides the counterpart funding.

– Umahi revealed that the ministry received such a bid, worked on it and sent it to BPP.

– Umahi added that the BPP worked on it according to the Procurement Act and came up with a price slightly lower than the ministry’s price and even lower than the cost of similar projects awarded five years ago like the Bodo-Bonny project.

– Umahi said BPP issued a certificate of no objection on the project to the Ministry of Works in line with the Procurement Act.

– Umahi added that the Ministry of Works took the certificate of no objection to FEC and FEC debated and approved it.

– Umahi also cleared the air on the Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report, saying that preliminary approval was issued in December 2023 by the Ministry of Environment and renewed in January.

– Umahi said the ESIA certification is progressive and they have a certified ESIA to start the project.

– Umahi added that they redesigned the route to put a human face to the decision and to minimise demolition of permanent infrastructure.

– Umahi said the process of ESIA involves constant stakeholders’ engagement of which many have taken place and he even participated in two in Lagos.

– Umahi maintained that the removal of properties along the route is subject to the rule of law and clarified that only property owners with proven titles will receive compensation.

– Umahi said shanties and those with property within the 250-meter shoreline setback without a Federal government title would not be compensated as it is a legal matter.

– Umahi added that the committee is not in charge of ramp or anything else but to verify those to be paid compensation, authenticate and pay. He said where there is a title problem, it will need a presidential waiver for such to be paid.

– @ThisIsAdemuyiwa (X)

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PDP Holds BoT Meeting, Vows To Restore Confidence, Hold Congress In States

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) is presently meeting in Abuja.

In his opening address, the BoT Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, reaffirmed the commitment of the body to restoring confidence within the party and organizing congresses in states where they have not yet been held.

Senator Ohuabunwa told members that the national leadership is ready to work collaboratively with all state chapters to bring fresh leadership and stability across the country.

He outlined the PDP’s roadmap: conduct overdue state congresses, consolidate ongoing achievements, and support the national leadership to steer the party back on course.

According to him, these steps are critical to ensuring unity, transparency, and strengthening grassroots engagement.

By holding timely congresses and reinforcing organizational discipline, PDP hopes to rebuild trust among members and present a more organized, credible front ahead of future elections.

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BREAKING: Talon safe as loyalist forces regain control after brief coup scare

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Benin’s President Patrice Talon is safe, and security forces are restoring order after a faction of soldiers claimed to have removed him from power, the presidency announced on Sunday.

In a brief statement, the presidency dismissed the soldiers’ declaration as the actions of a fringe group with limited influence.

“This is a small group of individuals who only managed to seize the television station. The regular army is steadily regaining control. Both the city and the entire country remain completely secure,” the statement said.

The clarification follows an earlier broadcast by soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” who declared that Talon had been removed from office.

The government has since described the broadcast as an isolated disruption, assuring citizens that the situation is under control.

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Orluzurumee Shifts Expanded Stakeholders’ Meeting To December 13

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The leadership of Orluzurumee, the apex socio-cultural body of Orlu Zone, has announced a new date for its much-anticipated Expanded Leadership and Stakeholders Meeting.

In a statement by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Nnamdi Cos-Ukwuoma, the organization said the meeting, earlier scheduled was shifted due to fresh logistical arrangements aimed at ensuring wider participation and seamless coordination.

According to the statement, the meeting will now take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Mayor Eze Hall, Orlu Local Government Headquarters, by 11:00 a.m.

Orluzurumee, under the leadership of its President General, Rt. Hon. Ugochukwu Nzekwe, expressed regret over any inconvenience the postponement may have caused invited stakeholders, stressing that the adjustment was necessary to guarantee a more inclusive and productive engagement.

According to the statement, the meeting is being convened in collaboration with the Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Dr. Emmanuel Okeke, and is expected to bring together traditional institutions, political leaders, community heads and other key actors from across Orlu Zone.

The organization described the gathering as a critical platform for fostering unity, peace and development across the zone, while reaffirming its commitment to the vision of “One Voice, One Destiny, One Orlu.”

Stakeholders and residents of the zone were urged to attend and participate actively in shaping the future direction of Orlu.

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