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Delta Earmarks Bulk Of 2026 Budget To Infrastructure, Social Welfare

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Delta Governor Oborevwori

Delta Earmarks Bulk Of 2026 Budget To Infrastructure, Social Welfare

Delta earmarks bulk of 2026 budget to infrastructure, social welfare. The Delta government has rolled out plans for its 2026 Appropriation Act, with a total expenditure plan of about N1.7 trillion.

The Delta government has rolled out plans for its 2026 Appropriation Act, with a total expenditure plan of about N1.7 trillion.

The budget allocated N500 billion to recurrent expenditure and N1.229 trillion to capital expenditure.
The commissioner for economic planning, Sunny Ekedayen, gave a breakdown of the budget at a news briefing in Asaba on Wednesday.

Mr Ekedayen said that the spending framework, recently approved by the House of Assembly and assented to by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented a significant increase over the 2025 budget of N979 billion.

According to him, the initial proposal of N1.664 trillion submitted to the House underwent scrutiny and adjustments, resulting in a final figure that better reflects the government’s developmental priorities.
He confirmed that the budget would take effect on January 1, 2026. A major highlight of the 2026 fiscal plan is the emphasis on capital expenditure.

Mr Ekedayen disclosed that more than N1.165 trillion, over 70 per cent of the total budget outlay, was earmarked for capital projects, a departure from previous spending patterns.
He described the allocation as unprecedented, saying that the capital component alone exceeded the entire 2025 budget.

He said the shift was designed to fast-track development across Delta’s 25 local government areas by improving infrastructure and public facilities.
The commissioner said that the existing projects would be completed, while new ones would be carefully selected to deliver measurable benefits.

He also said that social welfare would feature prominently in 2026, with about N20 billion set aside for programmes targeting artisans, small traders, and vulnerable citizens, among others.

He said that the support would be delivered through a mix of cash transfers and material assistance.
Mr Ekedayen said that to sustain the initiative, a Social Protection Bill had been forwarded to the House to provide a legal and institutional framework for its operation.

He restated that infrastructure development would be spread across both urban and rural communities, reflecting the state’s dispersed settlement structure.

He also announced that N100 billion was budgeted for special interventions at the local government level to address pressing community needs identified through grassroots engagement.
In the health sector, the commissioner revealed plans for major upgrades to tertiary healthcare facilities, including the acquisition of advanced diagnostic equipment from Germany for the three state-owned hospitals.

He also spoke of ongoing efforts to strengthen primary healthcare, expand medical training programmes, recruit more health workers and sustain the state’s health insurance scheme.
Mr Ekedayen said that education remained a core focus of the present administration.

He gave assurance that there would be continuous funding for state universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, schools of nursing and health technology, as well as numerous public primary and secondary schools.

He described agriculture as another key pillar of the 2026 budget, with plans anchored on direct government investment, partnerships with the private sector and large-scale agribusiness ventures.

Mr Ekedayen said the measures would help to boost food production, create employment opportunities and minimise post-harvest losses.

Delta Governor Oborevwori

Delta Governor Oborevwori

He said that Delta was well placed to benefit from the second phase of the federal government’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme.

On the revenue side, Mr Ekedayen reported a sharp rise in internally generated revenue, which grew by more than 140 per cent since 2023 – from N83 billion to over N200 billion.

He said that the target for 2026 was at least N250 billion and attributed the increase to improved efficiency and reforms rather than additional tax pressure on the people.

He disclosed that the state was exploring new revenue streams, including participation in the blue carbon market through mangrove restoration and climate finance initiatives, as well as collaboration with international partners and the federal government.

The commissioner described Mr Oborevwori as a result-driven leader focused on long-term impact.

He assured Delta residents that the benefits of governance would be felt across all the communities.
“As of January 1, 2026, the machinery of government will be fully activated. Development efforts will intensify, projects will advance, and communities across the state will experience visible progress,” Mr Ekedayen said.

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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