The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has described the N800bn allocated to the ministry in the 2025 budget proposal as inadequate to fix the country’s road infrastructural needs.

Umahi, a two-time governor of Ebonyi State, disclosed this on Friday at a 2025 budget defence session, hosted by the House Committee on Works.

He called on the committee to consider reviewing the ministry’s budgetary allocation in the 2025 fiscal year upward.

“We plead with you to help us. N800bn cannot do anything for us. It cannot address our road needs and so we plead with you to help us,” Umahi said.

He urged the committee to give the ministry adequate funding to enable it to complete ongoing projects as well as commence work on new projects spread across the country.

Umahi added that the number of road projects the ministry intended to fix couldn’t be funded from the ‘meagre budget envelope,’ stressing that borrowing money to fix the country’s infrastructural needs for the greatness of the nation was a step in the right direction.

“When the nation is in recession, you have to borrow money and do infrastructure. That is how you come out of a recession. It is the infrastructure that is going to be a catalyst for economic activities and then this hunger we are talking about will be a thing of the past. The food sellers will be there, those doing sharp sand, those doing gravel and so on. Support Mr President and let’s borrow money and do this infrastructure so that Nigeria will be great again,” Umahi said.

The chairman of the committee, Akin Alabi, promised to summon the Minister of Finance, and the Head of the Budget Office to explain the rationale behind the low budget of the ministry.

A Nasarawa State High Court has ordered the remand of Timilehin Ajayi, an acclaimed gospel singer, after he was allegedly found in possession of the severed head of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Salome Adaidu.

The directive was disclosed in a brief statement posted on Friday by the Nasarawa State Police Command via its official X (formerly Twitter) account.

According to the statement, Ajayi was presented before the court as part of preliminary proceedings, pending his formal arraignment.

The case has drawn widespread attention, with many demanding swift justice for the tragic loss of the young corps member.

The statement read, “Timilehin Ajayi was charged to court today and remanded in prison custody pending his formal arraignment.”

News360 Nigeria reported on Tuesday that Ajayi was arrested by churchgoers for allegedly killing and dismembering Adaidu, for suspected ritual purposes.

The church’s Bible Study Teacher and General Secretary, Caleb Umaru, had explained that a member noticed Ajayi acting suspiciously near a river.

He claimed that the said member alerted others when Ajayi threw a bag into the river, which was later retrieved and found to contain his girlfriend’s severed head.

The suspect, who had admitted to committing the crime, however, said he had no regret for his action.

He had alleged that the late Adaidu, who was his girlfriend, was cheating on him which prompted him to kill her.

Meanwhile, members of the deceased family had claimed that their sister was never in a relationship with the suspect and that contrary to reports that Adaidu had visited the suspect, she was allegedly kidnapped.

The President Tinubu Government has spent a total of N9.74bn on the procurement and distribution of food items as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of the food crisis across the country in 2024.

This is according to data from BudgIT’s platform, GovSpend, a civic-tech organisation advocating for transparency and accountability.

A significant portion of the funds was allocated for the supply of rice, beans, maize, and other staple food items.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security spearheaded these initiatives, with multiple payments made to contractors for the emergency supply of palliative foodstuffs to federal constituencies across the country.

Among the key transactions were payments to contractors for the supply of rice, beans, and gari, aimed at alleviating hunger in vulnerable communities.

Payments, often amounting to approximately N85.45m per constituency, were carried out across various regions from February to November 2024.

Data revealed that the same amount of N85,454,545.46 was expended for each federal constituency that benefited from the palliatives in states including Kano, Ogun, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Adamawa, Kaduna, Jigawa, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Bauchi, Rivers, Borno, Sokoto, and Enugu, bringing the total expenditure to N9.74bn.

Despite this substantial financial outlay, concerns have been raised about the programme’s effectiveness in addressing the root causes of food insecurity.

An economist at Lotus Beta Analytics, Shedrach Israel, argued that palliatives alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s food crisis.

“While food palliatives are crucial for addressing immediate hunger, they do not tackle the systemic issues contributing to food insecurity, such as inflation and structural deficiencies in agricultural systems.

“We need sustainable economic policies that prioritise increasing local agricultural productivity and improving distribution networks to reduce dependency on external food aid,” he said.

Israel added that the N9.74bn spent on food palliatives could have been invested in long-term agricultural innovations and infrastructure development, which would provide lasting solutions to food insecurity.

Similarly, a Kaduna-based agricultural economist, La’ah Dauda, highlighted the need for a more holistic approach to tackling the food crisis.

“The government’s focus on distributing palliatives is a short-term fix to an ongoing agricultural crisis. While essential, these measures fail to address underlying issues such as inadequate irrigation systems, insufficient storage facilities, and weak market access that continue to hinder agricultural productivity across the country,” he said.

Popular Nigerian televangelist, Mike Bamiloye has alleged that scientists are trying to invent a fake rapture which could lead to the disappearance of many people.

He claimed they were doing this to make Christians confused so they would no longer believe in the real rapture.

He shared a screenshot from a Facebook post with the faces of two extraterrestrial beings with a caption that reads: "The extraterrestrial invasion is imminent. It will take 10,000 people in 2025."

Adding his own caption, Mike Bamiloye wrote: "YOU DONT BELIEVE IN THE IMMINENT RAPTURE? TO MANY SIGNS AND SIGNALS AROUND US.

"Even the Scientists and the World Powers believe that there is an imminent occurrence that would lead to the disappearances of many people.

"They are trying so hard to give an explanation to it ahead of time.

"They are also working secretly on a Scientific and technological invention that would make so many people vanish without trace.

"They are perfecting that technology, so that the Enemy, the Devil can get us confused.

"They are trying to invent FAKE RAPTURE, in order to distract our preparation from the Actual Rapture.

"We have cone to the Season of Great Delusion.

"All around us now are news and reports of UFO (unidentified Flying Objects) and emerging of Strange beings from the Land, Air and from the Oceans.

"We are beginnjng to see creatures that are half human and half sea creatures, unbelievable images of beings coming out of the belly of the Seas.

"Water is flowing in Arabian deserts, The biggest river in the World, The Euphrates, drying up to receal unbelievable Caves on the river beds. The Antarctica ice wall melting to show strange images buried under ice for thousands of years.

"Robots, human machines are already mixing with human to do the jobs human are employed to do.

"Robotic AnteNatal Clinic is being secretly created where babies could be developed in the wombs of Robot and sold to intending buyers.

"Robotic Female wives are being made to be make available for intending buyers, in place of human wives.

"Things are cooking in the skies and on the seas. So many strange and fearful signs and very deadly Natural Disasters and Pandemics.

"The new Virus that is sorrading in China and have been found in UK has been tagged Quademic!

"TOO MANY SIGNS ARE POINTING TO THE IMMINENT SOUND OF THE TRUMPET FOR US TO MEET THE LORD IN THE CLOUDS AT THE RAPTURE."

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has ruled that Julius Abure remains the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

A three-member panel of the appellate court, in a judgment delivered on Friday by Justice Hamma Barka, upheld its earlier judgment of November 13, 2024, which recognises Abure as National Chairman. The court confirmed that this decision has not been overturned by any other court.

Justice Barka made this declaration in the ruling on two separate appeals filed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, the caretaker committee, and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The Court of Appeal stated that it did not address the issue of Labour Party leadership, as such matters are not justiciable.

The court further ruled that any action taken outside of jurisdiction is null and void. As such, the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court on October 8, 2024, by Justice Emeka Nwite, was deemed ineffective as it was delivered without jurisdiction, and the court proceeded to strike it out.

In striking out the suit, the Appeal Court reaffirmed its previous judgment from November 13, 2024, which declared that “Abure remains National Chairman of the Labour Party.”

Details later…

The Labour Party (LP) has dismissed speculations that Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, refuted the claims, describing them as baseless.

Naija News understands that reports had emerged of possible defection plans involving at least five first-term governors from opposition parties, including Alex Otti of Abia, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, and Umoh Eno of Akwa Ibom. While Mbah, Fubara, Eno, and Oborevwori belong to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Otti is a member of the Labour Party. Both parties are currently grappling with internal challenges following the 2023 elections.

Addressing the allegations, Ifoh reiterated that there is no truth to the claim that Governor Otti intends to leave the Labour Party.

“It is a mere rumour and I hope it remains so. For us in the Labour Party, we are in touch with our governor, Dr. Alex Otti, and he has assured us that he is not going anywhere, ahead of 2027. We believe that he will stay with us, irrespective of some of the issues which we are working hard to resolve,” he said.

Ifoh acknowledged that party defection is a common occurrence in a democratic system but emphasized that Governor Otti has no plans to align with the APC.

“The courts have come up several times to make interpretation as regards Section 84 of the 1999 Constitution, and many people who had defected at one time or the other had been challenged in court. So, if five governors are planning to defect, it won’t be a new thing, as it had happened in the past,” Ifoh explained.

He attributed the rumors of defection to difficulties some opposition governors face in managing their states but maintained that such speculations about Otti hold no credibility.

“We are good in Labour Party, and our governor is with us. We are hoping that by 2027, we will have more governors in our fold,” he added.

The family of a two-year-old pupil identified as Ella, whose lifeless body was found in the pool of Smiley Kids Montessori School in the Sangotedo area of Lagos has called on the Lagos State Government to unravel the circumstances surrounding her death.

The sad incident which occurred on Wednesday 15th January, 2025 is suspected by the family to be a case of electrocution, alleging that the baby’s body was placed in the swimming pool to fake it as a drowning incident.

Outcries by Netizens for proper investigation and justice over the incident has gained traction when an X user Bella said to be the mother of the deceased pupil suspected foul play by the school authority over the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death.

She posted, “Dear Lagos State Government, Our daughter, 2 years old went to school yesterday and did not return alive.

“The pool has barricades, how can a child of 2 years climb?

“Please help us get justice for our baby. She just celebrated her 2yr birthday in November last year, left home well for school on 15/1/2024 and never came back alive.

“How do you have a pool on school premises without proper monitoring?

“They lied she drowned in the pool but we have been able to find out it’s electrocution, and they dropped her in the pool to look as if it was drowning.

“Now they are lying to other parents that the school is closed because of maintenance instead of telling the truth.

“If nothing is done to close down that school, other parents may cry for their own kids attending the school.”

The deceased child’s mother alleged in a series of chats shared online.

She added that, “After they called in the afternoon to inform us of the incident on the 15th, yesterday we went to the school and discovered the water dispenser was plugged in and exposed, which is where she was.

“If you see the pool, no way she was going to go very close to it, it’s not possible.

“It is just a cover-up story. We demanded CCTV footage, they said it was not possible. A school that collects thousands as school fees.”

However, it has been gathered that the school proprietor and five other staff members of the school have been apprehended and taken to the Ogonbo Police Station in Sangoteso area of Ajah.

Sources hinted that the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti on Friday.

In recognition of his contributions and leadership, the chairman/chief executive officer (CEO) of Stanel Group and The Delborough Lagos, Dr Stanley Uzochukwu, has made the list of African leaders to attend the inauguration of US President-elect Donald J. Trump in Washington on January 20.

The invitation was contained in a letter addressed to the young Nigerian usiness leader Dr. Uzochukwu dated January 13, 2025, signed by the chairman, Multicultural Coalition U.S. President Inaugural Ball Committee, Dr. J. Mark Burns.

It reads in part, “On behalf of The Multicultural Coalition U.S. Presidential Inauguration Ball host Committee honoring President Elect Donald J. Trump, it is my distinct honor and privilege to extend to you an invitation to our Inaugural Ball celebrating the commencement of the U.S. Presidential Inauguration.

“This prestigious event will be held on January 20th, 2025 at the Washington Times Building Arbor Ballroom, located at 3600 New York Ave, NE, Washington, DC 20002.

“In recognition of your exceptional contributions and leadership, as highlighted by a recommendation from the African Legacies Institute under the guidance of Madame Franya E. Cabral Ruiz, we would be especially honored to have your presence at this distinguished event.”

Recall that ‘The Delborough Lagos’ boss, Dr Stanley Uzochukwu, was also among the African leaders that were invited and attended the swearing-in of President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana on January 7, 2025.

Leading the delegation of The African Legacies Institute to the U.S. Presidential Inauguration of Trump will be H.E. Hailemariam, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

It will also be recalled that the Stanel boss stood on the same platform with President Trump and other world leaders at Liberty University, USA during a U.S./Africa CEOs Summit in 2020

Adura Aloba, brother of Mohbad, has responded to accusations made by actor Yomi Fabiyi regarding the singer’s death.

Mohbad passed away on September 12, 2023, and was buried the following day. However, on September 21, 2023, his body was exhumed by the police for an autopsy.

At a recent press conference, Fabiyi claimed that Adura had knowledge of the cause of Mohbad’s death and had requested money to share a video supporting his claim.

According to the actor, Adura messaged him on Instagram, saying he had evidence that could help unravel the cause of Mohbad’s death.

Fabiyi alleged that Adura requested N3 million to share the video that supposedly showed Mohbad’s wife Wunmi pushing the singer down the stairs during an altercation.

However, Adura denied the allegations, arguing that he did not create the video in question and that “Mohbad himself recorded it”.

He explained that he had sold Mohbad’s phone to someone who had access to the video.

Adura also confronted Fabiyi, stating that he had tried to explain the situation earlier. He accused Fabiyi of trying to tarnish his name.

“Firstly, I do not have much to say. This thing is in court already. So I do not need to say much. I cannot know about my brother’s death and keep quiet all these days. I am now so surprised. This video we are talking about is like three years ago. And I was not the one that did the video, it was Moh himself on the phone I sold to Damola. And the video was on that phone,” he said.

“I was the one who chatted Mr Yomi. And I had tried to make him understand. (Facing Fabiyi) You were invited and they told you who was chatting with you. And you insisted on the TikTok live. I saw everything on the TikTok live.

“Mohbad did the video and it was on his phone for more than three years ago… When I sold the phone to Damola, about a week later, I started seeing his messages with Mr Yomi. That was how it all happened. Mr Yomi is trying to tarnish my name that I did it.”

Abosede Aloba, Mohbad’s mum, also clashed with Fabiyi over the accusation against Adura.

Three Nigerians in the US have been sentenced for their involvement in a prolonged fraud scheme that frequently targeted elderly victims, according to authorities.

Fatai Okunola, 38, of Kalamazoo, received a prison sentence of just over 10 years for his role in the conspiracy and was ordered to pay more than $730,000 in restitution.

Okunola was sentenced to five years for making false statements during naturalization and 10 years for money laundering, with all sentences to run concurrently.

Two residents of Dallas were also sentenced. Oluwaseyi Adeola, 34, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison and ordered to pay approximately $410,000 in restitution.

Ijeoma Adeola, 36, received three years’ probation for misprision of a felony and was ordered to pay just under $49,000 in restitution.

The defendants conspired with individuals in Nigeria to scam U.S. residents, many of whom were elderly or vulnerable.

The Nigerian partners used fake personas to develop relationships over the internet, social media, text, or phone, then solicited money from the victims.

Victims were instructed to send funds to the defendants, who opened multiple bank accounts and maintained P.O. boxes under alias names and shell businesses.

The defendants then transferred the money among themselves and to their Nigerian partners.

Okunola also used some funds to assist individuals in purchasing cars in the U.S. and shipping them to Nigeria.

Between 2017 and 2022, the scheme amassed over $2 million.

U.S. Attorney Mark Totten stated, “Financial fraud is not a ‘faceless’ crime — and today’s sentencings help secure a measure of justice for the victims of this international fraud scheme.”

He added that some victims “lost their retirement savings, took loans against their homes, or suffered other financial distress because of the defendants’ lies.”

Totten emphasised that the defendants exploited modern technology, including the internet and social media platforms, to prey on elderly and vulnerable victims.