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FCT infrastructure boom reflects Tinubu’s vision for Abuja – Wike

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has described the ongoing infrastructural development in the FCT as a “fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s vision” for the nation’s capital.

Wike said this on Monday, while inaugurating the construction of Mohammed Isa Road Extension in Asokoro District, Abuja.

He faulted critics who claimed that Tinubu was not working, saying, “You cannot say FCT is working and Mr President is not working. It doesn’t make sense.

“He is working through us. We carry out the directive; we carry out instructions; and we carry out the vision of Mr President, and one of the visions is that FCT must compete favourably with other cities of the world. That is what we are doing”.

The minister urged Nigerians to be truthful to themselves, stressing that if the ongoing infrastructural developments had been done before now, the Tinubu administration would have channelled the resources to other things.

The minister pointed out that the way Abuja was two years ago is not the way it is today, assuring that it would not be the same tomorrow.

He appealed for continued support to the present administration, noting that Tinubu had demonstrated leadership and commitment to change the lives of Nigerians.

Wike explained that the ongoing massive investment in schools’ rehabilitation and other interventions in transport and other sectors was to ensure balanced development across the FCT.

“We have touched transport, we have touched roads, we have touched sports, we have touched education, and now we are touching the health sector.

“I assure you, no sector will be left untouched. All we need to do is just to be patient, and to be patient means to give us time,” he said.

The minister, however, pointed out that all planned development efforts largely depend on the availability of resources and urged residents to support the administration by paying their taxes.

“All these good roads, good drainage system, and the streetlights wouldn’t be possible if you didn’t pay taxes.

“Try and pay your taxes so we can provide more of these roads, connect the drainages and keep our environment clean,” he said.

Wike is officially a member of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, although he serves in the APC administration of Tinubu.

He has been accused of deliberately sabotaging the PDP to the benefit of the Tinubu administration, but has always maintained that he is a loyal member and benefactor of the PDP.

Tinubu had, in June, hinted at the likelihood of the FCT minister’s defection, but he has repeatedly vowed never to leave the PDP, despite serving in the APC administration.

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CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour, 67, reveals the ovarian cancer she was battling has returned

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Amanpour has now explained her absence, sharing that her cancer has returned in “fairly rare” form, before she went on to encourage other women to “listen to your body” and get checked.

“I have it again, but it’s being very well-managed, and this is one of the whole things that people have to understand about some cancers,” she said on the Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story podcast.

She continued: “I decided when I got back in front of the camera after four weeks — which included the surgery and a couple of weeks of recuperation before I started chemotherapy — I decided to say something because I actually wanted to do a service.

“Not just to my viewers, but also to those who might be in a similar situation and I wanted to say what had happened to me.

“I wanted to say listen to your body because part of the reason I got such quick care was because I listened to my body and went straight to the doctors.”

Amanpour, who was joined on the podcast by gynaecology oncology consultant Dr Angela George, explained that her current cancer has been diagnosed as “stage 1/2” which means it’s in its first stage but had “adhered to the pelvis”.

“Angela told me what it was and why I was potentially lucky because there were actually pain symptoms,” explained Amanpour. “There’s often no symptoms so many women don’t know, so I feel that I was lucky.”

Amanpour, who is the US broadcast network’s leading international correspondent after joining CNN in 1983, first revealed she was being treated for ovarian cancer in 2021, when she told viewers she had undergone surgery. She also shared at the time that she was preparing for a round of chemotherapy treatment.

“I’ve had successful major surgery to remove it and I’m now undergoing several months of chemotherapy for the very best possible long-term prognosis, and I’m confident,” Amanpour said at the time.

The anchor, who had been off the air in the weeks prior, pointed out that ovarian cancer is all too common, affecting “millions of women around the world.”

She added that she felt “fortunate to have health insurance through work and incredible doctors who are treating me in a country underpinned by, of course, the brilliant NHS.”

After speaking about her surgery and chemotherapy, Amanpour added: “I’m telling you this in the interest of transparency but in truth really mostly as a shoutout to early diagnosis.”

The reporter explained she wanted to “urge women to educate themselves on this disease; to get all the regular screenings and scans that you can; to always listen to your bodies; and of course to ensure that your legitimate medical concerns are not dismissed or diminished.”

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‘Economic Illiterate’ – Onanuga Attacks ARISE TV Anchor, Rufai Oseni

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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has slammed ARISE Television anchor, Rufai Oseni, over an attack on the current administration.

It was reports that Oseni had shared an article accusing President Tinubu of being the mastermind of Nigeria’s rising debt profile.

Reacting to the post, Onanuga described Rufai as an economic illiterate, stressing that all nations borrow money and that Tinubu’s government borrowing has not breached the limit.

He wrote, “You are an economic illiterate! All sovereign nations borrow money.Our borrowing has not breached the limit by the rule.”

Responding to Onanuga, Rufai wrote, “Dear Egbon Bayo, you don’t need to abuse me and call me economic illiterate because I stated Nigerias debt! Challenge me with facts.

“Love and respect despite your abuses. you don’t need to abuse me. We all respect you as our Baba B. You can make your point without abuses. Why call me an economic illiterate because I stated facts!

“Kindly provide a contrary fact that Nigeria is not owing 152 trillion.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) recently defended the Federal Government’s borrowing strategy, insisting that debt is a legitimate and sustainable part of every national budget.

The FIRS Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, while addressing journalists during the Meet-the-Press series organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Adedeji dismissed criticisms of the government’s debt profile, stressing that no nation in the world funds its budget solely on revenue.

“Borrowing is not a problem. It is part of every viable nation’s ecosystem. No country in the world survives entirely on its own revenue.

“When the government borrows from banks, it pays interest; banks pay salaries from that, and taxes are collected from their profits. It is a cycle that sustains continuity,” he explained.

The tax chief added that every budget is made up of three core components, expenditure, revenue, and loans, and that as long as government borrowing stays within what is approved by the National Assembly, there should be no controversy.

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Peter Obi Faults $1 Billion Lagos Port Project

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The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to extend port development to other parts of the country.

Speaking on Friday via a post on his 𝕏 handle, he condemned the excessive investment in infrastructure in Lagos.

He lamented that such actions are carried out at the expense of other strategic ports such as Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne.

The former governor noted that if ports in other states were fully developed, it would enhance productivity, drive trade, create jobs, and open new economic corridors that would lift millions out of poverty across the federation.

He wrote, “I have noted the Federal Government’s recent approval of $1 billion (₦1.5 trillion) for the modernisation of the Apapa and TinCan Island Ports in Lagos.

“While any effort to improve efficiency and embrace technology in our maritime sector is commendable, such an initiative must be guided by accountability, transparency, and equity for all Nigerians. However, this development once again exposes a longstanding concentration of our port development only in Lagos.

“As one who understands the critical link between infrastructure, trade, and national growth, I believe that a truly national blue economy must carry every region along. Beyond physical infrastructure, reform must also address corruption, reduce bureaucracy, and embrace technology to create a seamless, paperless port system that enhances turnaround time and global competitiveness.

“If prudently managed, the Lagos modernisation project could become a model for broader maritime transformation, a reference point from which similar development radiates across the nation.

“Now more than ever, Nigeria must rebuild with fairness, guided by equity, integrity, and a clear vision to transform our nation from one of consumption to one of production and shared prosperity.”

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