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Residents of Ebaji community in the Abaji Area Council of the FCT said it has been extremely difficult to move their farm produce to the nearest market as a result of abandoned road project in the area

The agrarian community is therefore appealing to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to intervene on the dilapidated road that links Ebaji-Rimba to the neighboring Pandagi village in the council.

Some residents who spoke when Abuja Metro visited the community on Saturday, said the deplorable road continues to cause them significant hardship, especially during the annual rainy season.

They noted that the road is one of the rural routes that was awarded by the FCT Administration through the Satellite Town Development Department (STDD), connecting Pandagi to Ebaji village.

Aliyu Ndatsu, an Ebaji resident, told our reporter that the deplorable state of the road has become a nightmare not only for villagers but also for farmers who find it difficult to transport their crops to the Abaji market.

He explained that farmers often mobalise to fix some bad portions of the road before their harvested produce can be transported to the market.

‘I don’t know if you noticed some of the bad portions of the road that were repaired on your way here. Just on Friday, we mobilized ourselves to fix some dilapidated sections so that vehicles can enter. Abaji market is on Sunday, and we needed to make sure our crops are taken to the market,’ he said.

Another villager, Yunusa Ibrahim, said residents are always cut off from accessing neighboring villages during the rainy season due to the road’s condition.

He said only those with motorcycles manage to ride through, while appealing to the government to intervene and rehabilitate the road.

‘Actually, a section of the road was graded, and some culverts were constructed across streams years ago by the FCT Administration, but the work suddenly stopped then, making the road impassable,’ he said.

Monarch expresses concern

Also speaking to our reporter at his palace, the Ohiodumi of Ebaji community, HRH Alhaji Mohammed Tsado, noted that the Rimba-Ebaji road is an essential access route that links not only to Abaji town but also to neighboring villages in Niger State.

He said the road’s deplorable state has become a source of serious concern to his subjects, especially the farmers who transport their farm produce to Abaji market every five days.

‘Although this is not the first time my subjects have complained about the dilapidated Ebaji-Rimba road-it has been in the media on two occasions-since the present FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, assumed office, and we have been seeing the road projects he has been executing across Abuja city and the FCT area councils, we decided to draw his attention to also come to our aid on this Ebaji-Rimba road, which has been a nightmare for us for over 18 years,’ he said.

He appealed to the authorities of the Abaji Area Council under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Umar Abdullahi to liaise with the FCT Administration so that the road will be included among the roads the minister will be awarding.

‘To be fair to the present FCT Administration under Wike, the man is truly working, especially on the construction of roads across the FCT. We feel we should also use this medium to draw his attention to the Ebaji-Rimba road so that he will consider the road in any subsequent road project he awards,’ he added.

The monarch also expressed concern over the lack of a bridge connecting Ebaji to neighboring Egyesha, Gayankpa, Kenigi, Etebetse, and Padawa communities in Niger State.

He said the construction of a bridge across the river in the community would significantly boost socio-economic activities between Ebaji residents and the neighboring villages in Niger State.

‘Residents of these villages I mentioned, which are under Niger State, share a boundary with us, and they ply through the river into Ebaji to transport their farm produce to Abaji market. Whenever it rains heavily, people from those villages cannot cross that river,’ he stated.

The village chief recalled how members of the community contributed money about three years ago to construct a wooden bridge across the river, which was later left uncompleted due to financial constraints.

‘If you go there, you will see for yourself the kind of efforts my subjects made when they tried to contribute money to construct a wooden bridge, but unfortunately, they could not complete it due to financial constraints. So we are also appealing to the government to assist in constructing a main bridge that will connect us with neighboring villages in Niger State,’ he said.

He also lamented the insufficient number of boreholes in the community, saying residents mostly trek to the river to fetch water for domestic use.

‘I think the only functional borehole in this village is one solar-powered borehole, and it’s not enough to serve the entire households. So our women mostly go to the river to fetch water, even though some of the boreholes have been broken down for years,’ he said.

Council confirms intervention request

An official in the works department of the council, who craved anonymity, confided in our correspondent that the council chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Abdullahi, had already presented a proposal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, requesting the rehabilitation of the Ebaji-Rimba road.

‘Actually, when Wike came to commission the Unguwar Hausawa road a few months ago, the Chairman tendered the request to the Minister about that, which I am telling you confidently that the issue of the Ebaji-Rimba road is already before the Minister,’ he said.

The official noted that the Ebaji-Rimba road project was abandoned during the administration of the past FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, revealing that the present FCT Administration would likely revoke the road project and re-award it afresh.

Nigerian-born global investor and Chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), Adebayo Ogunlesi has disclosed his intention to develop a local aviation infrastructure in Nigeria.

He spoke to newsmen after a closed door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at his residence in Lagos, expressing strong confidence in the President’s economic reforms.

He described the reforms as a solid foundation for renewed international investment in the country, commending the administration’s economic direction citing removal of fuel subsidies, ongoing tax reforms, and the revival of the national refinery.

‘We had an excellent meeting where we discussed strategies to put Nigeria front and centre for global investment. The President was very encouraging, and we exchanged valuable ideas on driving economic growth,’ he said in a statement made available to Daily Trust yesterday.

Ogunlesi added that his firm is actively investing in Nigeria and evaluating new opportunities across multiple sectors.

‘Watch this space. Nigeria may not yet be the most exciting investment destination, but that’s what we are working on,’ he noted.

He highlighted energy, gas, aviation, ports, and renewable energy as the areas of focus, stressing that Nigeria’s vast gas reserves remain significantly underdeveloped.

Drawing on his firm’s experience in LNG projects in Texas and Australia, he described Nigeria’s energy sector as ‘ripe for sustainable partnerships.’

Ogunlesi hinted his interest in developing local aviation infrastructure, revealing that one of his companies operates ports in Cotonou and Lomé, but none in Nigeria, a point the President humorously challenged him on.

‘He forgave me but said, ‘You must bring port investment to Nigeria,” Ogunlesi recounted with a smile.

Also present at the meeting, international investor Hakeem Bello-Osagie emphasized the importance of diaspora involvement in Nigeria’s economic transformation.

‘When Nigerians at home and abroad invest in the country, it sends a powerful message to the global community,’ he said.

Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), noted that the administration’s fiscal and structural reforms are laying the groundwork for an export-led economy.

‘We have done the fundamentals, and now it is time to deliver growth,’ he said.

Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) has donated essential drugs to the Sickle Cell Clinic of the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, as part of the centre’s renewed effort to support vulnerable patients battling chronic illnesses.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Alhaji Ubale Ibrahim Rano, dRPC’s Program Officer for health, said the gesture underscores the Centre’s ongoing commitment to strengthening healthcare access for indigent patients.

‘This donation reflects our belief that every life matters, regardless of social or economic background. It highlights the urgent need to sustain mechanisms that promote the welfare and survival of sickle cell patients, many of whom struggle to afford essential drugs,’ Alhaji Ubale stated.

He added that the medications would be dispensed strictly based on prescriptions issued by the Sickle Cell Clinic, ensuring they reach patients who are most in need. He explained that since 2023, the centre has consistently provided both material and technical assistance to the Sickle Cell Foundation as part of its broader health improvement initiative.

With this latest contribution, the organisation expressed optimism that its continued collaboration with healthcare institutions will further strengthen efforts to improve the welfare and survival rates of sickle cell patients across Kano State and beyond.

In her remarks, Officer-in-Charge of the Sickle Cell Clinic, Mrs Sadiya Abdulqadir, expressed gratitude to dRPC for the intervention, describing it as both timely and lifesaving.

‘Most of our patients cannot afford their medication, and sometimes, our staff have to contribute from their own salaries to help them. Therefore, this support from dRPC will go a long way in easing the burden on both patients and caregivers,’ she said.

The donation includes 22 packs of Aceclofenac 100, 16 packs of Folic Acid, and 40 packs of Lonart DS.

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Osun State has said that all the local government secretariats in the state remain closed.

In a statement on Monday, the president of the union in the state, Nathaniel Kehinde Ogungbangbe, insisted that its sit-at-home directive is still in force.

Governor Ademola Adeleke had, in February, ordered the closure of all the 30 local government secretariats in the state following a power tussle involving the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress regarding the control of the council areas.

The NULGE president Monday commended workers for their ‘discipline and loyalty’ despite political pressure.

‘Our members have shown uncommon courage by refusing to be misled or intimidated. They stand for justice, due process, and lawful governance at the grassroots,’ he said.

He alleged that ‘some hired political agents’ attempted to pose as council workers to create a false impression of resumed activities.

‘These impostors only came to collect payments from their sponsors and left. True Osun workers have refused to participate in such acts of sabotage,’ he said.

Ogungbangbe stressed that the union’s action would continue until, in his words, ‘the autonomy, safety, and legitimacy of local government administration are guaranteed.’

He urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding, while calling on the state government and security agencies to protect local councils from political interference.

‘We will not compromise the interest of our members or the sanctity of the law,’ Ogungbangbe added.

The Federal Government, in collaboration with development partners, has held a Community of Practice Summit in Abuja to domesticate the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration on Food Systems.

The African Union (AU) had, in January 2025, adopted the Kampala Declaration (2026-2036), which focuses on transforming agrifood systems and enhancing food security across the continent.

The summit followed a two-day meeting of non-state actors (NSAs) on the CAADP Kampala Declaration on Strengthening Food Systems and Enhancing Food Security and Nutrition (2026-2035). The event was supported by GIZ Global AgSys Programme Nigeria and ActionAid Nigeria (AAN).

More than 46 non-state actors, including civil society organisations, farmers’ associations, academia, research institutions, development partners, media, and private sector representatives from across Nigeria, participated in the summit.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stressed the urgency of revitalising the agricultural sector.

‘We must move beyond business-as-usual approaches and embrace bold reforms that will make our food systems more productive, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. This transformation is essential to ensure food security in the country,’ he said.

Dr. Karin Jansen, Head of Development Cooperation at the German embassy, stressed the importance of Nigeria’s leadership in the process, noting that the successful domestication of the CAADP Kampala Declaration depends on coordinated action at both national and state levels.

‘This meeting marks a pivotal step toward defining Nigeria’s agricultural transformation roadmap. Germany, through the BMZ, has reaffirmed its cooperation with the African Union on CAADP and the Kampala Agenda as a key framework for food systems transformation,’ she said.

In their communique, the non-state actors urged the federal government to strengthen rural infrastructure and services-including roads, irrigation, storage facilities, markets, and ICT-and to increase investments in strategic areas such as extension services, access to credit, women and youth in agriculture, labour-saving technologies, input supply, post-harvest loss reduction, climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture, nutrition, irrigation, research and development, as well as monitoring, evaluation, and coordination.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has withdrawn from the Spanish national team after picking up a muscle injury on Sunday.

Although the issue is not believed to be serious, the decision was made as a precaution. In a statement shared by Fabrizio Romano yesterday, the Spanish international explained: ‘I’m feeling better, but I don’t want to take any risks with the national team. I hope to be available in two weeks for the Everton game.’

Rodri’s absence will be a setback for Spain ahead of their upcoming fixtures, but head coach Luis de la Fuente is expected to test alternative options in midfield during this international window.

Union Bank of Nigeria has affirmed its commitment to employee well-being and sustainable workplace development as it held its first-ever Stay Recharged Health Walk.

The walk kicked off at the Stallion Plaza, Union Bank’s Head Office in Marina. It concluded at the Bank’s Sports Complex, The Stable, on Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, tracing an energising 7.5km route through Lagos’ vibrant streets. The overwhelming participation and enthusiasm from employees from diverse departments and locations made it a celebration of physical fitness, mental health, and the power of community spirit.

Stay Recharged is a featured event drawn from a cornerstone of Union Bank’s employee value proposition: employee wellness, thoughtfully crafted to foster a culture where health, happiness, and productivity flourish. The initiative responds directly to the urgent need for purposeful wellness programmes that nurture both physical and mental health at work. It reflects the Bank’s recognition that employee wellbeing is fundamental to sustained productivity, engagement, and organisational excellence.

Omayuli Wale-Ajayi, Chief Talent Officer, emphasised the significance of this milestone event: ‘At Union Bank, well-being is not an afterthought; it is part of how we work. Our inaugural Stay Recharged Health Walk reflects our commitment to building a culture where our people are energised, supported, and thriving. When we take care of ourselves, we build stronger teams and stronger institutions.’

The Stay Recharged Health Walk aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. This initiative reflects Union Bank’s commitment to fostering a workplace culture that prioritises employees’ wellness, supports decent and productive work, and contributes to long-term organisational sustainability.

By investing in these wellness experiences, Union Bank not only strengthens its internal community but also reinforces its reputation as an employer of choice.

Great Britain’s Aled Sion Davies secured his seventh consecutive F63 shot put title on the final day of the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.

The Welshman, 34, threw a distance of 16.44m in his fifth attempt to finish ahead of Kuwait’s Faisal Sorour, who won silver with an effort of 16.28m, and clinch the 11th world title of his career.

Davies had missed out on gold at a fourth consecutive Paralympics last year as Sorour threw 15.31m to win in Paris.

F63 is a classification for athletes with a single leg amputation above the knee who use a prosthesis. Davies has vowed to break his own world record at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani Socio-Cultural Association, has applauded the Federal Government’s decision, through the Ministry of Livestock Development, to designate, gazette, and upgrade 415 grazing reserves across the country.

The association stated that this step, when implemented, would address the lingering crisis between herders and crop farmers that has led to the loss of many lives and sources of livelihood.

Addressing journalists after an expanded national executive and states chairmen meeting held Sunday at its headquarters in the Tudun-Wada community along the Abuja-Keffi Highway, the group noted that the initiative would also generate thousands of jobs.

The National President, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, and the National Secretary, Eng. Saleh Alhassan, who granted the interview, appealed for adequate funding for the new ministry. They emphasized that proper funding is crucial to realizing the project’s set goals, which include building earth dams, solar boreholes, veterinary clinics, and milk collection centers around the designated facilities.

Mr. Bodejo specifically commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for actualizing the project, which he said the organization has been canvassing and yearning for years.

The coastal splendour of Lagos State and its tourist attractions have been identified as part of the major determinants that placed it ahead of other coastal cities in Africa to become the first to host the E1 World Championship on the continent.

Lagos is reputed as an aquatic environment filled with water bodies and wetlands covering over 40 per cent of the state’s total land area, with lagoons and creeks alone making up 22 per cent of its area.

The state is believed to cover 186 kilometres of coastal area, making it one of the prominent coastal cities in Africa alongside Cape Town, Durban (South Africa), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Luanda (Angola), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Alexandria (Egypt), and Accra (Ghana).

Despite the potential of the coastal areas to spur the blue economy, the state is also prone to flooding whenever it rains heavily.

However, the state became a cynosure of all eyes during the weekend, gaining global spotlight and recording history as the first city in Africa to host the World Electric Powerboat Championship.

The championship brought to life activities on the state’s waterway, witnessing thrilling contests among the nine global teams – Team Drogba, Team Rafa, Westbrook Racing Team, Aoki Racing Team, Blue Rising Team, Team AlUla, Team Miami, Team Brady, and Team Mexico – that battled for supremacy at the Victoria Island Lagoon.

The nine teams with two pilots each, totalling 18, competed at an average temperature of 19 degrees centigrade within a circuit of 7537km, stirring with determination inside their cockpits to end their race at a good time to give them an advantage in the scoring point.

While the pilots were poised with the pressure to beat against the wind on the water, the event was mixed with cultural display and entertainment as there was a musical band group singing, beating the drums and dancing to the tune of the songs to welcome the personalities with VIP tickets.

What is the E1 World Championship about?

E1 is the world’s first and only all-electric raceboat championship sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the international governing body for powerboating activities.

According to Rodi Basso, founder and Chief Executive Officer of E1, the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF was established to create a new, exciting and competitive on-water racing Championship, using electric technologies to focus efforts on innovations that help protect and restore urban waters and coastal areas.

He added that teams feature both a male and female pilot, racing on the water in iconic cities around the world, listing the cities which have hosted the championship to include Jeddah, Doha, Monaco, and Miami.

‘The teams are owned by some of the biggest names on the planet. These already include Will Smith, Marc Anthony and Steve Aoki from the world of entertainment, LeBron James, Rafael Nadal, Tom Brady, Virat Kohli and Didier Drogba from the world of sport and Marcelo Claure from the world of business,’ he said.

Drogba, Afreximbank push E1 Powerboat racing to Lagos

Basso disclosed that former Ivory Coast striker, Didier Drogba, Afreximbank and Lilium Group began the conversation to bring the championship to Africa, particularly Lagos from 2023, describing it as the drive that fostered the championship to the continent.

‘These guys are talented. Didier Drogba stopped a war. We are not talking about someone who is selling carpets, as we say in Italy. We are talking about a man who has changed the destiny of the country, and if this man comes to me and says, I want to race in Africa, for me, it’s a blessing.

‘So, we started two years ago, and then we took on board Afeximbank. Then we involved Simon Tientoret, who is the chairman and founder of Lilium Group and Vista Capital, and together we found the resources to be here (Lagos).

‘We came to speak to the state government, which has been incredibly helpful in making this happen. We would never have made it to have a race of this quality without their support. In terms of permission, finding the way, and the place. It was really one team,’ he said.

‘E1 Powerboat racing can unlock $2trn via blue economy’

Basso stressed that the sport embodies the potential to unlock $2 trillion through the blue economy for the state, saying that the potential of coastal areas in the state is yet untapped.

‘Blue economy is something that I am discovering while developing E1. There is a potential economy of $2 trillion in the blue economy. This means that for the first time, maybe in history, it is combining business and positive impact,’ he said.

He added that it will create job opportunities and improve the coastal areas through innovation and technology.

‘So, it’s a huge opportunity because this means jobs. This means better coastal areas, better water conditions through science and engineering.

‘So, E1 is about protecting and celebrating the coastal areas like rivers, lakes, oceans. We know that there is an issue. We know that there is a gap in the marine industry for the sustainability and the water mobility of the future, and we come with a boat that is a symbol of responsibility through three factors: zero emission, so our boat doesn’t make any emissions because it’s fully electric.

‘We use foils, and foils don’t generate waves. You can see when the boat will be running, there is a spray, but there are no waves or very little waves and waves are very critical for the coastal area erosion and then we reduce by 80% the acoustic noise compared to a thermal engine,’ he said.

Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire may host next E1 in Africa

Basso disclosed that there is an ongoing conversation to host the championship on the continent in Senegal, saying that a potential sponsor in Europe has shown interest in sponsoring it.

‘I have been told by my commercial director that there is someone from Europe who is interested in sponsoring us, but they said they are interested in Senegal,’ he said.

He stressed the possibility of hosting the championship in the Ivory Coast if considered.

‘I would love to race also elsewhere in Africa. There are so many countries undergoing a big evolution as well. I just mentioned a few; I may forget some, but Rwanda is interesting, Egypt, Morocco, Angola, and South Africa. Well, we have Didier from the Ivory Coast, so I’m sure at a certain point we may consider this, but I mean, we are very open and very interested in more races in this country,’ Basso said.

He expressed readiness to host the championship in Lagos next year, attributing it to the economic potential the state offers.

‘Well, I hope and I think we will be back next year, racing in Lagos, and I may show up earlier than that, let’s put it this way, personally, for more business and more conversation happening,’ he said.

He revealed that there is ongoing negotiation by a Nigerian to own a team, saying that a team requires a license to operate and $2 million yearly to finance it.

‘There is a discussion for a Nigerian to own a team. It is an advanced discussion. Next year, let’s see how this conversation goes, but at the moment, we are extremely positive. If it goes well, they sign and pay for the process. We may announce it by the end of the year, but again, I cannot guarantee. Negotiation, conservation, very positive so far,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the state’s governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, acknowledged the impact of E1 Lagos GP while assuring the state’s commitment to hosting future events, making the race a permanent event on the global E1 calendar.

He commended the organisers for bringing the race to Lagos and partners for making the dream a reality, assuring of the state’s resolve to compete with big cities across the world through its resilience, competitiveness and home to global businesses.

Pilot recounts experience

Team Braday’s Pilot Emma Kimiläinen, described her experience on Lagos waterways as nice, saying, ‘It’s been cool to work with Emma and the rest of the team. Because they’re all from different backgrounds, sporting-wise as well. Fantastic.

‘So, each session we learn something new and have to be a little bit hybrid with our strategy. We have an optimal strategy and race lines that we want to take. But every time, there’s always a bit of a compromise on corner entry.

‘If there are a bit of waves and stuff coming, or you’re following another boat. It’s a nice technical race course here because it’s flat and fast. So, it’s a different challenge than some of the other places like Monaco, where it’s rough water,’ she said.

Also, Latoya Johnson, a fan, expressed surprise that the championship was hosted in Lagos, stressing that it offers huge economic potential.

‘I know it’s a big event, but, looking at Nigeria, Lagos, you would not expect that we would be able to handle an event of this sort.

‘So, I was quite impressed, and honestly, I’m proud of Lagos, proud of Nigeria. The major highlight for me is the fact that Lagos was able to host this because I am a big promoter of tourism,’ she said.

Another fan, who gave his name as Oladunni, described his experience as great, urging the government to invest in natural resources.

‘The game is a new game. It is amazing in the fact that this is in West Africa, Lagos, and this is the first time they are going there. In terms of boosting the country’s economy, we need to invest in our natural resources,’ he said.