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Tinubu’s Four Legacy Projects Will Link All Six Geopolitical Zones, Says Umahi As ECOWAS Bank Moves To Approve Fund For Calabar-Abuja Super Highway
Tinubu’s Four Legacy Projects Will Link All Six Geopolitical Zones, Says Umahi As ECOWAS Bank Moves To Approve Fund For Calabar-Abuja Super Highway
The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s four legacy road projects as a transformative national infrastructure network that will connect all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, unlock economic opportunities, boost food security, and accelerate regional integration.
Umahi stated this on Monday, June 8, 2026, while receiving a delegation from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), led by Maimouna Sidibe, Head of the Basic Infrastructure Division, Department of Public Sector Corporations, at his office in Abuja.
The EBID team is currently undertaking appraisal activities ahead of the approval of financing for Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway, one of President Tinubu’s landmark legacy projects.
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Welcoming the delegation, the Minister explained that the President’s four legacy road projects were deliberately designed to function as an interconnected national transport network.
“Let me say that the entire four Legacy Projects of Mr. President are interconnected in a loop,” Umahi said.
He explained that the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway seamlessly links with the Trans-Sahara Super Highway through Ndibe Beach in Cross River State.
According to him, Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway spans 123.64 kilometres and runs from Ndibe Beach to the Benue border, while additional sections through Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa States have already been awarded.
The Minister noted that the historic route has existed since colonial times, serving as a major corridor for trade and agricultural activities.
“It has long existed and remains a major food corridor. It is critical to food sufficiency in our country,” he stated.
Highlighting the economic significance of the project, Umahi said the highway would connect major agricultural belts across the country, including Ebonyi, Benue and Cross River States, while significantly reducing travel time between Calabar and Abuja.
“This route will shorten travel time from Calabar to Abuja to about four hours. It is therefore a very important corridor,” he said.
Beyond transportation, the Minister revealed plans to harness existing dams along the corridor for irrigation and renewable energy generation, creating new opportunities for industrialization, investment and job creation.
“There are many benefits to this project. Beyond tolling and corridor development for investment returns, it will generate numerous jobs, both direct and indirect. There will be factories along the corridor, power projects, and significant traffic volumes on the road,” he added.
Umahi further explained how the Trans-Sahara Super Highway connects to the fourth Legacy Project through the Abuja-Akwanga Road corridor, extending through Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Biu and Maiduguri.
He noted that the recently flagged-off Gombe-Biu section covers 125 kilometres and is being constructed as a six-lane highway, while procurement activities are ongoing for the Bauchi-Gombe section.
He also outlined plans to link the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway through a new route beginning at Victoria Island, traversing a 3.5-kilometre tunnel, Ogogoro Island and Snake Island before connecting to Badagry.
“When you look at all of this on a map, you see a loop. All the geopolitical zones are included,” Umahi said.
“If you start from Sokoto, you can access all six geopolitical zones within two days. It is a remarkable development.”
Commending the contractor handling Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway, Infioues, the Minister disclosed that work has already exceeded 20 percent completion.
“My concern is that we need to fast-track the loan component because once they reach 30 percent completion, payments will become necessary,” he said.
He described the visit of the EBID delegation as timely and praised the bank for its commitment to supporting the strategic project.
“That is why your visit is very timely, and we commend you highly. I also appreciate the meeting we had earlier. It was very fruitful, and I believe we are aligned in terms of enthusiasm and speed of execution.”
Earlier, leader of the EBID mission, Maimouna Sidibe, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting the project, describing it as a priority infrastructure investment.
“We are very honored to contribute to the financing of this very important project, which have been submitted last week to our first credit committee.”
Sidibe disclosed that the project had already received positive consideration from the bank’s first credit committee and had advanced to the appraisal stage.
“The members find this project very important and encourage the department to come to finalize the instruction of the projects.”
She explained that the delegation’s visit included consultations with key government agencies as well as site inspections to assess project implementation, environmental compliance and social safeguards.

Umahi
According to her, the project is expected to proceed to the bank’s second credit committee next week before being presented to the Board of Executive Directors in early July for final approval.
Sidibe commended the Federal Government’s commitment to the project, noting that counterpart funding obligations had already been substantially fulfilled.
“I have to say that the project is of a very top priority for the administration, and that’s why the administration have paid 30 percent of the counterpart money.”
She also praised the quality of work already delivered on the project and expressed confidence in the durability of the road infrastructure.
“The members of the credit committees said that this technology is very, very good and already experienced on Lagos-Calabar, and the road duration will be at least for 50 years.”
The delegation included Mathieu Anno, Head of the Environment and Sustainability Unit at EBID; Onimisi Aliyu, Financial Analyst at EBID; Blaghe Dougah, Head of ESG Department at Sky Capital Europe; and Sheka Humphrey of Influence International, the project contractor.
Francis Nwaze, FIPMD
Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media)
June 8, 2026
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News
Nigeria Police Force Debunk Fake Statement on Training of 50,000 New Constables
Nigeria Police Force Debunk Fake Statement on Training of 50,000 New Constables
The Nigeria Police Force has disclaimed a fake press statement circulating widely on social media, which claimed that the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had ordered the commencement of training for 50,000 newly recruited police constables.
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The Force, in a disclaimer issued on Friday, said the document was not issued or authorised by any of its organs, despite being packaged to bear the letterhead of the Nigeria Police Force and the name of the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu.
The forged statement, which had been making the rounds on WhatsApp and other platforms, was titled, “IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu Directs Commencement Of Training For 50,000 Newly Recruited Police Constables.”
It claimed that the IG had directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Department of Training and Development to make arrangements for the training of the recruits in line with approved standards, with emphasis on discipline, professionalism, integrity, human rights and effective policing.
The fake release further claimed that successful candidates should begin checking the official police recruitment portal from Monday, September 14, 2026, for information on their allocated training institutions and dates of resumption.
It also purportedly quoted the IG as expressing appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his support in tackling insecurity and strengthening the country’s security architecture.
But debunking the document, the Force said, “The Nigeria Police Force disclaims the purported Press Release titled, ‘IGP OLATUNJI RILWAN DISU DIRECTS COMMENCEMENT OF TRAINING FOR 50,000 NEWLY RECRUITED POLICE CONSTABLES,’ currently in circulation and bearing the name and designation of the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, anipr.”
The Force cautioned members of the public, especially candidates seeking to join its ranks, against falling for the document, insisting that only its verified channels should be trusted.
It said, “Members of the public, particularly Police recruitment candidates, are advised to disregard its contents and rely only on information published through the official Police recruitment portal and verified NPF communication channels.”
The Force also revealed that it had commenced a manhunt for those behind the fabrication and distribution of the false statement, warning that they would face legal consequences once apprehended.

Police
It said, “The Force is currently on the trail of the persons responsible for generating and circulating the false document and will take appropriate legal action against those found culpable.”
The disclaimer comes amid a spate of fake recruitment-related statements attributed to security agencies, which have continued to mislead unsuspecting job seekers and members of the public.
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Nigeria Police Arrest Suspects Over Obi’s Convoy Blockade in Benue
Nigeria Police Arrest Suspects Over Obi’s Convoy Blockade in Benue
The Benue State Police Command has arrested some people in connection with the blockade of the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, on Tuesday.
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The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, who disclosed this at a press conference held in Makurdi on Wednesday, did not give the number of those arrested.
According to the CP, the police officers deployed for the visit of the former governor of Anambra State acted in a professional and tactical manner to avoid an escalation that could have resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property.
While stating that the tactical decision taken by the command should not be mistaken for inaction, the CP said that Obi was subsequently safely escorted back to the airport.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Obi’s movement was obstructed by a group of persons, creating tension and a situation that could have degenerated into violence.
“At that point, the Police took a professional and tactical decision to avoid an escalation that could have resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property. Mr. Obi was subsequently safely escorted back to the airport and departed the state peacefully.
The police boss, who said that the command remained a neutral and professional institution, added that every Nigerian has the right to freedom of movement, irrespective of political affiliation, status or personal belief.
“No individual or group has the right to unlawfully obstruct another person’s movement,” he said.

Peter Obi
The command assured the public that all those found culpable would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and allow the police to conclude their investigation.
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ICPC, NCS Advocate for a Robust Collaborative Framework to Safeguard Public and National Revenue
ICPC, NCS Advocate for a Robust Collaborative Framework to Safeguard Public and National Revenue
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has underscored the critical necessity of integrity within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), advocating for a robust collaborative framework to protect public revenue and bolster governmental trust.
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The Commission articulated this stance during a high-level courtesy visit from the newly appointed Customs Area Controller for the Ondo/Ekiti Command, Deputy Comptroller Patience O. Ita, at the ICPC’s Ondo State headquarters in Akure.
During the meeting, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RACC) for Ondo and Ekiti States, Mr. Tiku Andrew Menge, stressed that the NCS’s pivotal role in border management, enforcement, and trade facilitation renders ethical conduct paramount.
He warned that systemic revenue leakages and the abuse of regulatory powers not only erode public confidence but also critically impair the efficacy of state institutions, creating a fertile ground for corrupt practices.
Mr. Menge elaborated on the ICPC’s holistic preventive mandate, clarifying that its remit extends well beyond the investigation and prosecution of graft; further noting that the Commission is actively engaged in identifying systemic vulnerabilities and reinforcing institutional controls, thereby fostering an environment where corrupt activities are intrinsically difficult to initiate or sustain.
Highlighting the transformative potential of modernisation, the RACC advocated for the integration of technology, automation, and data-driven processes within Customs administration.
He explained that such advancements could significantly enhance traceability and accountability by curbing discretionary human intervention, though he cautioned that these measures must be underpinned by ethical leadership, rigorous supervision, and robust internal controls.
In a salient clarification, Mr. Menge asserted that the objectives of corruption prevention and trade facilitation are not mutually exclusive but are, in fact, symbiotic. He argued that transparent and predictable Customs processes effectively diminish the appeal of informal channels, thereby cultivating a more reliable and secure environment for legitimate commercial ventures.
Proposing a strategic roadmap for future collaboration, the Commissioner suggested that both agencies could benefit from practical engagements in corruption-risk identification, integrity sensitisation, and stakeholder dialogue.
He emphasised that such cooperation should be guided by the overarching public interest, rather than fostering a hierarchical dynamic where one institution supervises the other, but rather leveraging their respective mandates for a common good.
In her response, Deputy Comptroller Ita affirmed that her visit was primarily to establish a constructive working relationship following her recent deployment.

ICPC, Customs
She expressed her command’s unequivocal readiness to sustain engagement with the Commission on matters of mutual concern, particularly in the realms of compliance, enforcement, and the effective administration of public services.
However, Mr. Menge concluded with a firm caveat, reminding all parties that collaborative ventures must not compromise the statutory independence of either institution.
His parting words served as a stark reminder of the fundamental principles underpinning their shared mission: “Partnership creates trust; it does not create immunity.”
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