NANS Honour Umahi as Grand Patron, Commends His Efforts in Road Infrastructure Projects

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has honoured the Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, with the title of Grand Patron of NANS, in recognition of his contributions to road infrastructure development and his commitment to transforming Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape.
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The honour was conferred on the Minister when the leadership of NANS, led by its Global President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde, paid a courtesy visit to the Federal Ministry of Works in Mabushi, Abuja, on Monday, 10 August, 2026.

Speaking while receiving the student leaders, Minister Umahi expressed appreciation for the honour, describing NANS as a critical mass representing the present and future leadership of the country.

He congratulated the Association’s leadership on the confidence reposed in him and commended the Nigerian students, both at home and abroad for their courage, intellectual capacity, and commitment to national development.

Engr. Umahi said he had rarely accepted awards in the past but decided to accept the NANS’ honour because they represent the leaders of today and tomorrow.

“I am so grateful and humbled by the kind words you spoke about me. I rarely accept awards, but this is a body that is made up of our leaders, the future leaders and leaders of today and tomorrow,” he said.

The Minister urged Nigerian students to take an active interest in national issues, stressing the importance of being properly informed and guided by facts rather than sentiments, particularly in this era of social media.

He challenged the students to scrutinise government policies and programmes and take informed positions on issues affecting the nation.

The Minister also highlighted some of the major road infrastructure projects being executed under the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR noting that the projects were designed to improve connectivity, facilitate economic activities, create employment opportunities and strengthen national integration and development.

He cited the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway, the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the Makurdi–Enugu corridor, the Port Harcourt-Bodo Bonny road project and other legacy/major projects across the country as evidence of the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development.

On the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road project, the Minister explained that significant progress had been achieved, adding that the administration remained determined to complete the outstanding sections.

Umahi said the Federal Government was also introducing solar-powered street lighting and tree planting along strategic sections of some major highways to improve safety, visibility and aesthetics for road users and communities along the corridors.

According to him, “the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway remains a major economic investment that will open up new vistas of opportunity across the coastal corridor, while other legacy projects are being executed to cover more communities and connect previously isolated areas.

The Minister further disclosed that the Ministry had opened its road projects to greater public scrutiny, stressing that transparency and accountability remained central to the administration’s infrastructure development programme.

He disclosed that the Ministry had engaged relevant anti-corruption agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to inspect projects and ensure that contractors and officials remained accountable.

“We are ready for constructive criticism. We have nothing to hide in these projects. You are stakeholders and you are very important in the development of these projects,” Umahi stated.

The Minister welcomed the partnership with NANS and directed that it should be supported to embark on monitoring tours of Federal Government road projects across the country.

He also announced plans to provide vehicles for student representatives to monitor projects, stressing that the initiative was intended to allow students to see the projects firsthand, ask questions, and provide constructive feedback.

Umahi cautioned the students against confrontation with officials or contractors, urging them to carry out their monitoring responsibilities professionally, objectively, and honestly.

He said the partnership would also provide an opportunity for young Nigerians to understand the scale of infrastructure development taking place across the country and to contribute meaningfully to national discourse.

The Minister urged the students to focus on issues rather than personalities and to use their education and influence to promote national unity, responsible citizenship and economic development.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Rafiu Adeladan, commended NANS for recognising the work being undertaken by the Ministry and for choosing to establish a partnership with the Federal Government.

He described the honour bestowed on the Minister as a demonstration of confidence in his leadership and commitment to infrastructure development.

He assured the students that the Ministry remained open to scrutiny, constructive criticism and recommendations aimed at improving the quality and delivery of the Federal Government’s road projects.

“There is nothing we are doing in secret. Everything is open. We want you to go and see our projects, see where we are doing well and, where we are not meeting expectations, and call our attention to them. We are ready to amend, change, and take the right course.” he assured.

The Permanent Secretary urged the students to become responsible ambassadors of national development and to continue supporting initiatives that promote the progress and unity of Nigeria.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President (SSA-P) on Student Engagement, Hon. Sunday Asefon, also commended President Tinubu and the Minister of Works for their commitment to infrastructure development.

Hon. Asefon stated that the Federal Government’s investment in road infrastructure was creating opportunities for young Nigerians and improving access to educational institutions and other critical services across the country.

NANS

He encouraged NANS to sustain its engagement with the government and ensure that students remained active participants in national development.

Earlier, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Akinteye Babatunde, announced the association’s decision to honour the Minister as Grand Patron of NANS, citing his hard work, commitment to excellence and achievements in road infrastructure development as parameters.

He described the visit to the Ministry as a “homecoming,” stressing that NANS was interested in building a strong partnership with the Ministry and creating opportunities for Nigerian students to visit and assess major/ legacy road projects being executed under the Tinubu administration.

According to him, the honour was in recognition of the Minister’s “hard work and immeasurable service to humanity,” adding that his achievements in road infrastructure are contributing significantly to economic growth and job creation for Nigeria’s teeming youths.

The NANS President noted that good road infrastructure was particularly important to students because it facilitates movement to educational institutions, examination centres and other destinations, while reducing travel time and transportation costs.

He described the honour as a vote of confidence in the Minister as one of the key drivers of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the infrastructure sector.

“We have a duty to contribute to the development of this country, and to that extent, we make bold to say that the scale of road projects completed under your leadership is worth recognition,” he said.

Comrade Babatunde pledged the association’s support for the Minister and expressed optimism that the partnership between NANS and the Federal Ministry of Works would be sustained in the interest of Nigerian students and the country at large.

The event marked a new phase of collaboration between the Ministry and the Nigerian student community, with both sides expressing commitment to transparency, accountability, and constructive engagement for sustainable national development.

Mohammed A. Ahmed,
Director, Information and Public Relations.
11 August, 2026.
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NPF Unveils Strategic Plans for 6th CARSPO Conference to Develop Roadmap for 2027 Election Security

The Nigeria Police Force officially announces the sixth edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, CARSPO 2026, scheduled to hold from 21st to 23rd September, 2026, in Owerri, Imo State, in conjunction with Lenders Consult International. The Conference will focus on developing a strategic roadmap for effective management of security during elections ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
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Themed “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections, ”CARSPO 2026 will bring together senior police officers, policing experts and relevant stakeholders to examine emerging electoral security challenges and develop practical strategies for safe, peaceful and credible elections.

Deliberations will focus on Intelligence-led Policing, Police-Community Partnerships, digital technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and other contemporary approaches to strengthening police operations before, during, and after elections.

The Conference, primarily involving officers of the rank of Commissioner of Police and above, will provide an opportunity for strategic engagement and the development of practical measures to strengthen the Force’s capacity for election security management.

The Conference will facilitate the development of actionable strategies for the protection of voters, electoral personnel, candidates, electoral materials and the general public during the 2027 General Elections.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, 21st September, 2026, in Owerri, Imo State.

CARSPO

The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to strengthening strategic leadership, professionalism and operational preparedness towards ensuring a peaceful, safe and secure environment for the 2027 General Elections.

CSP Ani Iniedu, anipr
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja
11th August , 2026
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Religious Leaders, Other Stakeholders Convene International Security Conference as Tinubu Calls for Peaceful Coexistence and National Unity

Tinubu calls for peaceful coexistence and national unity. Nigeria and the Muslim World League will on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, convene an international security conference in Abuja, bringing together religious leaders and other stakeholders to advance peaceful coexistence, national unity and security.

The conference, holding at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, is expected to explore the relationship between peace, security and socio-economic development, while strengthening dialogue and mutual understanding among Muslims, Christians and people of other faiths.

The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Monday at the inauguration of the Muslim World League Mosque in Abuja by the Secretary General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Scholars, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa.

Idris, who had earlier received Sheikh Al-Issa at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and accompanied him to the mosque inauguration, described the visit as a demonstration of the strong relationship between Nigeria, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the international community.

He said the conference comes at an important time for Nigeria, as the country continues to strengthen its national security architecture while pursuing reforms and investments aimed at accelerating socio-economic development.

The Minister reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, religious harmony and national unity, stressing that peace and security are fundamental to Nigeria’s prosperity and stability across Africa.

“The President is determined to ensure peace and tranquillity not just in Nigeria, but around the world. This is a clear demonstration of the path that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking,” Idris said.

He noted that Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous country, has a major responsibility to promote peace and stability across the continent, adding that a peaceful and secure Nigeria would positively influence West Africa and Africa as a whole.

Idris said the international conference would provide an important platform for religious leaders and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and develop practical approaches to strengthening peaceful coexistence, security and mutual understanding.

He commended the Muslim World League, Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), the Saudi Arabian Government and other stakeholders for facilitating Sheikh Al-Issa’s visit and the establishment of the mosque.

The Minister also expressed appreciation to Sheikh Al-Issa for his sustained commitment to peace, dialogue and understanding among faith communities.

Earlier, Sheikh Al-Issa commended President Tinubu’s efforts to foster peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims, stressing that peace and harmony in Nigeria would contribute significantly to stability across West Africa and the wider world.

The Secretary General said his visit was centred on peace and peaceful coexistence and expressed confidence that the conference would provide an important platform for advancing dialogue and harmony in Nigeria and globally.

He also inaugurated a newly constructed Mosque in Gauda, Abuja and expressed appreciation to all those who contributed to its establishment.

The International Security Conference brings together religious leaders, policymakers and other stakeholders.

President Tinubu

Attendance at the event included the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto; Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, representing Sokoto North Senatorial District; Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, representing Gombe Central Senatorial District; and Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, among other dignitaries.

Rabiu Ibrahim, MNIPR
Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation

Monday, 10 August 2026