Category Nigeria News

Stella Okengwu, a real estate investor, has criticized the significant losses that developers have suffered as a result of the development of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

She insisted that the Federal Government’s payments to property owners were below the value of their investments, as she asserted on Wednesday on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

“People who paid between 25 and 30 million dollars for each plot of serviced land, including drainage and sandfilling, are now being paid.” Some families have lost their homes.

She claimed that “one family was paid between $20 and $30 million for a house worth more than $300 million.”

Read more about Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: A ” Scam ” and Babachir Lawal Alleges.

She alleges that some Ministry of Works officials demanded money to stop the demolition of her property.

According to Okengwu, officials from the Ministry of Works acknowledged privately that some developers had bribed their way into approvals, revealing her personal experience.

She claimed a federal controller told her, “You’re talking too much, you’re talking too much.” Get your subscribers to contribute $200,000 to the ministry.

I have affected over 390 plots. These investors were diaspora Nigerians who had faith in me for their investment. They would assume I was responsible for what he said if I explained it to them.

The minister was harsh when I called him. They arrived the following day and began demolitions, she explained, but I apologised.

Further, she continued, “There is something they call an eminent domain in America. Your property will be secured if a government decides to seize it for eminent domain. The outcome will be good.

Nafisa Aminu, Rukayya Fema, and Hadiza Kalli, three Nigerian students, were honored by President Bola Tinubu for their outstanding performances at the 2025 TeenEagle Global competition in London, UK.

The President described the trio as “exceptional young Nigerians” who have become world leaders in English language communication and debate in a statement released on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, “Seventeen-year-old Nafisa received the overall best in English language skills, 15-year-old Rukayya emerged as the overall best in debate, and Hadiza won the Outstanding Talent Award (gold medal),” according to the statement.

President Tinubu praised their excellence and stated that “many of its youth serve as repositoryes of excellence,” the country’s future is much brighter.

He praised their educational institutions, citing their successes as a testament to the ability of Nigeria’s educational system to foster some of the world’s brightest minds.

The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving access to education, citing the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a crucial initiative to remove financial barriers for underprivileged Nigerians seeking higher education.

Also read: Pantami asks FG to give Teen Star Nafisa the same as Super Falcons.

Isa Pantami, a former minister of communications and digital economy, pleaded with the federal government on Tuesday to honor Nafisa Aminu for her extraordinary international accomplishments.

Over 20, 000 participants from 69 nations, including native English-speaking nations, competed for Nafisa, a student at the Yobe State-based Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), to take home the overall best in English at the TeenEagle Global Finals.

Pantami had suggested that Nafisa receive $100, 000, a three-bedroom apartment, and a national honor comparable to the gift that was given to Nigeria’s triumphant female football and basketball teams, the Super Falcons and D’Tigress, via a post on his official X handle.

He also urged her English teacher to receive a similar reward, citing the necessity of both honoring both her and her mentor.

He attributed Nafisa’s success to her talent, commitment, discipline, and strong family and school support.

Ibrahim Namadi, the commissioner for transportation for Kano, resigned after playing a contentious role in Sulaiman Danwawu, an alleged drug baron, as security.

Governor Abba Yusuf received the official report from a high-level investigative committee looking into Namadi’s involvement in the case shortly after his resignation.

The embattled commissioner stated in a statement that the governor’s representative, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, needed to “protect the integrity of the administration,” citing the need to uphold the administration’s integrity.

It behoves me to take this step, painful as it may be, as a member of an administration that has consistently promoted the fight against the sale and consumption of illicit drugs, Namadi said.

“It’s important for me to keep my innocence despite the pressure of the public and the need to defend the values we have built as a whole,” I said.

Read more about Yusuf’s denial of N2 billion in monthly payments to former governor in Kwankwaso, “Not A Thief,” HERE.

Namadi expressed gratitude to Governor Yusuf for the opportunity to serve, and he vowed to uphold the principles of accountability and good governance.

As a good citizen, he said, “I must work hard to instill in our dear state the trust and vision we have worked so hard to cultivate.”

“I firmly believe in the principles that guided this administration.”

Governor Yusuf Responds

Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s tough line on drug-related crimes by accepting Namadi’s resignation.

“Our government won’t compromise on accountability, accountability, and accountability.” The governor argued that protecting our youth’s future and well-being must be a top priority.

We don’t tolerate drug use and trafficking, we say. No one will be held accountable, no matter what their position.

The governor advised all political appointees to “act with caution” when handling sensitive matters, urging them to always seek official clearance before committing themselves to a public interest issue.

Findings of the Investigative Committee

The investigative committee led by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ibrahim, presented a detailed report to the resignation at the Government House during a formal address.

The committee discovered that Namadi submitted an affidavit confirming his status as a serving commissioner on July 18, 2025, when he voluntarily applied to become a surety for the defendant, Sulaiman Danwawu.

During the briefing, Farouk Ibrahim stated that he was aware of the charges’ drug-related nature.

His actions in contradiction to the State Government’s strict stance against drug trafficking, despite no evidence that the accused had any financial support or connections to anyone.

Other significant findings include:

1. Namadi made a promise to follow all bail conditions set forth by the court.

2. Despite the seriousness of the charges, he failed to use “adequate caution.”

3. The defendant’s affidavit only made reference to the $5 million bail amount that was not provided by the prosecution.

4. No tangible or lucrative incentives were discovered.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the head of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has responded to claims made by an investor who has been affected by the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal road, stating that all legal procedures must be followed when seeking redress.

On Wednesday’s edition of Channels Television’s breakfast program The Morning Brief, the NiDCOM boss said, “We were reading the newspapers about Winhomes, and then we looked for the diaspora investors.

Someone reached us and we struck up a conversation after about two months. Our team traveled to Lagos with their representative and a lawyer, and we discovered that the case was in court.

The investor, Stella Okengwu, the Managing Director of Winhomes Global Services Limited, had charged the Lagos-Calabar Coastal road project’s minister of works, David Umahi, with contempt of court.

Read more about Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: A ” Scam ” and Babachir Lawal Alleges.

She claimed that the minister cheated on a court order and violated the law by rerouting the highway into Winhomes’ residential development in Lagos’ Okun Ajah.

Dabiri-Erewa, a former House of Representatives member, claimed the Commission had previously warned the investor that legal proceedings would obstruct any form of intervention.

A woman called me from the United States, telling her that there is nothing we can do if the case is in court.

The NiDCOM boss added that discussion could have ended the dispute sooner by identifying the reasons behind Umahi’s criticism.

We informed them that there was a meeting with the Minister when this first began. She continued, “We’ve done it in a number of other cases.”

She reaffirmed Umahi’s willingness to meet with the residents who have been affected and said, “There must be a way to prove that if you claim to have invested $250 million.” Again, the court has to make a decision regarding that.

The NiDCOM chief criticized the use of media as a platform for attacks on government officials, claiming that doing so could damage Nigeria’s reputation abroad.

She noted that they travel abroad and bring the country down because someone has already sued them for what happened to them.

According to her, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has put a premium on protecting diaspora investments and ensuring fairness.

The First Lady and Chairperson of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Oluremi Tinubu, has donated ₦1 billion and a large consignment of relief materials to the Niger State Government to assist victims of recent natural and human-induced disasters across the state.

The donation, which includes 2, 000 bags of 50kg rice, 16, 000 wrappers for women, clothing, and over 100 pairs of shoes, is targeted at residents affected by floods, boat accidents, banditry, and fire outbreaks in different parts of the state.

Announcing the support during a visit to the Niger State Government House in Minna, Remi Tinubu said the initiative aligns with the goals of the Renewed Hope Initiative, which aims to rebuild lives, restore dignity, and offer hope to those affected by crises.

“We understand these are difficult times for many families”, she said. “But we pray that God comforts the bereaved, heals the injured, and strengthens the displaced. As a mother, I share in your grief and pain. Together, we can bring hope and relief to these communities”.

The First Lady also expressed condolences over the recent flood disaster in Mokwa, which claimed several lives and displaced many residents, as well as the tragic boat accidents and banditry incidents across the state.

READ ALSO: Remi Tinubu Donates ₦1bn To Displaced Families In Benue

Senator Tinubu praised President Bola Tinubu for his swift approval of emergency relief interventions, including food support and funds for the reconstruction of homes lost to the Mokwa flood.

She also commended Governor Umaru Bago for his quick response and proactive support to affected families, describing him as a “compassionate and committed leader”.

In his remarks, Governor Bago expressed deep gratitude for the First Lady’s visit and intervention, noting that Niger remains the only riverine state in Northern Nigeria, hosting four hydroelectric dams and two major waterfalls.

“We have faced multiple challenges—from floods to insurgency and boat mishaps. But with support like this, we are confident in our recovery efforts”, the governor said.

He also revealed that the ₦1 billion donation has already been credited to the state’s emergency relief account and will be deployed transparently for the benefit of the victims.

“This gesture by the Renewed Hope Initiative has brought real hope to our people”, Bago noted. “We thank you, Your Excellency, and pray that God continues to replenish all that you have given”.

In its most recent situation report, the country reported 811 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 152 fatalities this year, according to the Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

Ondo, Edo, and Benue States reported 11 new confirmed cases in the Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 28 (7th–13 July, 2025), which was released on Monday.

Lassa fever is related to 811 confirmed cases and 152 deaths, according to the NCDC. The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) is 18.7%, which is higher than the 17.3% that were reported in the same time in 202.9% of cases that have been confirmed are from Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi.

Additionally, the report further revealed that 105 local government areas and 21 states each had at least one confirmed case in total for 2025.

Additionally, same number of new confirmed cases were present as in 2025’s epi week 27.

In high-burden states, the NCDC organized a Lassa fever Environmental Response Campaign. However, it lamented that the rate of fatalities had increased as a result of late diagnosis.

Additionally, high-burden communities reported poor health-seeking behavior as a result of the high cost of Lassa fever treatment and clinical management, poor environmental sanitation practices, and poor awareness of the condition.

Therefore, the NCDC urged the general public to report suspected cases of people who had diarrhoea, myalgia, chest pain, sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, myalgia, chest pain, and hearing loss.

Lassa fever is an acute viral condition brought on by the Lassa virus, according to the World Health Organization.

It is endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and other West African nations, and is thought to be the same thing.