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Agora Policy Demands Reform Of Constituency Projects Scheme

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Reps Approves Bill To Expand Lagos

Agora Policy Demands Reform Of Constituency Projects Scheme

Agora Policy demands reform of constituency projects scheme, says current model flawed. Agora Policy, a think tank, has called for an urgent reform of Nigeria’s constituency projects scheme.

Over the years, constituency projects have faced criticisms for being plagued by corruption, poor execution, and lack of transparency, with many abandoned, poorly completed, or never getting off the ground despite substantial funding.

In a paper written for Agora Policy by Samuel Ajayi, Ayobami Ayorinde and Oluchi Nkeonye, the organisation described the current constituency project model as flawed and prone to abuse, corruption, and misallocation of scarce federal resources.

The group said constituency projects, a feature of Nigeria’s federal budget since 1999, have strayed from the original intent of addressing development gaps to becoming “vehicles for patronage politics, poor fiscal governance, and conflict of interest”.

The think tank said the arguments by federal lawmakers, including the claim to possess the power to scrutinise, reduce, and increase expenditures in budget proposals, “do not justify the evident abuse and the irregularities” that have characterised constituency projects.

‘PROJECTS WITHOUT NEEDS ASSESSMENTS’

The organisation said the process for initiating and implementing constituency projects is not grounded in data or rigorous needs assessments.

Agora Policy said, instead, projects are often chosen based on political calculations, with vague or inflated cost estimates and little to no post-completion evaluation.

The think tank cited a 2019 report by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) which revealed a pattern of ghost projects, incomplete execution, and misappropriated funds.

“There is also an issue with how constituency projects are conceived. There is no evidence that the projects are based on need assessments and on proper costing (the allocations are, not surprisingly, usually round figures),” the document reads.

“There is hardly an assessment of the operations and the impact of the projects when completed.

“The main motivations seem to be patronage and electoral leverage for the legislators. Most of the constituency projects also come at the tail-end of the budget process, and are unilaterally initiated by legislators.”

‘EXECUTIVE COMPLICITY’
Agora Policy said the executive is equally culpable, noting that rather than resisting legislative insertions that distort budget priorities, successive administrations have tolerated the practice in exchange for smoother legislative cooperation and speedy passage of budgets.

One exception, the think tank noted, was in 2016 when then-President Muhammadu Buhari initially refused to sign the Appropriation Act after lawmakers allegedly removed executive-proposed projects and inserted theirs.

“But even that resistance didn’t last. In 2019, Buhari said there was no tangible result from the more than N1 trillion spent on constituency projects in the previous ten years,” the organisation said.

Agora Policy

Agora Policy

“Two years later, he publicly objected to changes and additions made by the National Assembly to the 2022 budget but still appended his signature.

“The anomalies around constituency projects are getting progressively worse, as legislators become more emboldened and increasingly see these projects as their entitlements.”
‘REFORM, NOT ABOLITION’

While some analysts have called for the complete abolition of federally funded constituency projects, Agora Policy described these proposals as politically unrealistic, while recommending a comprehensive reform and sanitisation of the scheme.

Agora Policy recommended that the executive reclaim full control over the initiation, design, costing, and implementation of all projects in the federal budget.

This, it argued, would restore constitutional order and eliminate the current overlap in roles between the legislature and the executive.

To streamline constituency projects, the think tank proposed consolidating them under a unified framework such as the strategic intervention projects (SIPs) or a new constituency projects scheme (CPS).

Agora Policy said this would replace the current fragmented system and ensure that such projects are planned and executed within a structured and transparent process.

Uchechukwu Eze, Seyi Akinbodewa, and Doyinsola Wale-Banmore contributed to the policy paper.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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