News
Reps approve $347m loan for Lagos-Calabar highway, others
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to the National Assembly, seeking approval to borrow $347m under the 2025–2026 borrowing plan.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, read the President’s correspondence on the floor of the Green Chamber during Wednesday’s plenary.
According to the President, the loan is necessary due to a rise in the funding needs for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, whose cost increased by $47m, from $700m to $747m.
Justifying the loan request, the President said that when the borrowing plan was transmitted to the parliament, the lead arranger for financing only had financing commitments of up $700m from lenders, stressing that the shortfall in the financing was covered by export credit agencies.
“It is, therefore, necessary to increase the value of the financing for the project by $47m to ensure it aligns with the loan size agreed in the finance documents for the project,” the President said in the letter.
He noted that $300m is needed for the Nigerian universal communications access project, a landmark telecommunications initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide through the deployment of 7,000 telecommunications towers across hard-to-reach rural dwellings.
Recall that in May, Tinubu sought the approval of the parliament to approve the 2025-2026 borrowing plan of $21.54bn, €2.19bn and ¥15bn, in addition to a €65m grant.
With the extra $47m for the Lagos-Calabar road project and $300 million for the universal communication access project, the initial $21.54bn has witnessed a marginal increase to $21.89bn.
On Wednesday, the House adopted the report presented by the Nasarawa lawmaker, Abubakar Nalaraba, who chairs the House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management.
The lawmaker noted that despite increased borrowing, Nigeria’s debt portfolio “remains sustainable.”
He said, “At over N145tn, the debt-to-GDP ratio of about 50 per cent is within the international threshold (56 per cent).
“The current administration has succeeded in reducing the high debt service to revenue ratio from over 90 per cent to less than 70 per cent.
“The Federal Government’s capacity to service the new debt is bolstered by the anticipated revenue gains from the Nigerian Tax Act 2025, projected to grow by over 18 per cent year-on-year starting from 2026.”
The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who took over the plenary after the Speaker had left midway into the session, then approved the request.
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Social media activist VeryDarkMan has called out Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State for allegedly inviting only Igbo players from the victorious Super Falcons squad who just won the WAFCON title. In this viral video, VDM didn’t hold back as he condemned the ethnic bias, urging Nigerian leaders to embrace unity and national pride over tribal sentiments.
The Super Falcons made the nation proud — so why was only a select few recognized?
Watch as VeryDarkMan breaks down the issue and calls for fairness, equality, and inclusive leadership in Nigeria!
Do you agree with him? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s talk!
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more trending updates, real talk, and unfiltered reactions.
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Some frustrated women and young girls in Kano have taken their protest to Kofar Mata metropolis, an area known for brutal thuggery and killings over incessant loss of lives to the menace.
The women who trooped out on Saturday, demanded an urgent end to the violence that has cost the lives of their children and siblings.
Chanting slogans and holding placards, the protesters marched through the streets, calling on authorities to take decisive action.
A woman at the protest lamented that “our sons are dying for no reason. Every day, there is a fight, a killing, a stabbing,” said one grieving mother at the scene.
“We can’t continue like this,” another woman said.
In recent months, Kano State has witnessed a disturbing surge in street violence, with thuggery, phone snatching, and gang clashes becoming alarmingly common.
On Friday August 1st and 31st July 2025, there were reported thug clashes along that area.
A medical personnel in the area, Sadiya Umar said that I just passed the area today and I heard teargas and I think I heard gunshots too.
She said: “We were terrified, but I didn’t hear of the death of anyone.”
The growing insecurity has led to the loss of lives, especially among young people caught in the crossfire of gang rivalries.
One of the most shocking recent incidents occurred in Nassarawa Local Government Area, where a group of phone snatchers was struck by a vehicle shortly after robbing pedestrians at knifepoint.
A video of the incident, widely shared online, shows the suspects being overpowered by angry residents, beaten severely before being handed over to the police.
This kind of public reaction is becoming more frequent.
Many residents, frustrated by what they perceive as slow official response, have taken matters into their own hands—apprehending suspects and torture them before handing them to law enforcement agents.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the Kano State Police Command launched Operation Kukan Kura in early 2025.
The initiative targets phone snatching gangs and violent youth groups known locally as ‘Yan Daba’.
Since its launch, the operation has led to several arrests and increased patrols in known crime hotspots.
The police say the operation is already yielding results, as frequently shared on the Facebook page of the force’s spokesman, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.
However residents believe more sustained efforts are needed.
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A senior police officer attached to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, CSP Ebong Thompson, rejected a bribe of N800,000 offered in an attempt to secure the release of a suspected armed robber and cover up the crime.
The spokesperson of the command, Timfon John, in a statement said the incident occurred on Wednesday, 30th July, 2025.
According to her, the prime suspect, 53-year-old David Samuel Isaac, was arrested after a Samsung smartphone, reportedly stolen at gunpoint, was traced to him.
Investigations revealed that Isaac is a repeat offender, having previously been arrested and charged to court for a similar offence last year. He reportedly returned to criminal activity shortly after being released.
The second suspect, Emmanuel Mendie Peter, was apprehended at the SWAT office while attempting to offer the N800,000 bribe to secure Isaac’s release.
“A police officer in charge of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, CSP Ebong Thompson, rejected N800,000 bribe offered to him on Wednesday, July 30, 2025,” the statement read.
“The money was intended to secure the release of an armed robbery suspect and also cover up the crime. The suspect, 53-year-old David Samuel Isaac, was arrested after a Samsung phone that was gotten at gun point was traced to him.
“Isaac has a history of similar offences as he was arrested and charged to court for similar crimes sometime last year but returned to criminal activities after his release.
“The other suspect, Emmanuel Mendie Peter was arrested after he brought the bribe to the SWAT office to secure the release of the main suspect. He was taken into custody after the offer was rejected.
“All officers concerned with this discreet investigation received a commendation letter from the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare.
“The CP, while addressing officers at the end of the month briefing, charged them to emulate the Distinguished officers.
“Members of the public are therefore warned to desist from compromising police investigation.”
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