Economy
Umahi Assures Completion of Benin–Asaba Road, Says “We Inherited the Concession”
Umahi Assures Completion of Benin–Asaba Road, Says “We Inherited the Concession”
The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government will not allow the prolonged deterioration of the Benin–Asaba Road to continue, despite inheriting a concession agreement entered into by the previous administration.
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The Minister spoke on Friday, August 28, 2026, during an inspection of Phase 2B of the Second Niger Bridge at the Nkwerre–Ezunaka section of the Onitsha–Enugu Expressway.
Umahi said the Federal Government inherited the concession arrangement with Africa Plus Partners Ltd as part of the agreements entered into by the previous government, but stressed that the overriding interest of Nigerians would remain the priority of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration therefore has to follow due process.
However, the minister made it clear that the concession would not become an excuse for government to allow Nigerians and road users to continue suffering. “Our hands are tied by the concession agreement that was entered before this administration. But overriding public interest is such that we are watching them, and if this suffering continues, we’ll invoke the law of necessity for overriding public interest,”
He disclosed that the Ministry of Works had already notified the concessionaire of its default and was exploring available legal options.
Rather than immediately cancelling the concession, Umahi said the Federal Government had also assembled about 7 contractors and offered to have them intervene on the road at no cost to the concessionaire.
The concessionaire, however, insisted that it would undertake the rehabilitation itself.
“They say, ‘No, we will fix it.’ So if we had said no, then they will now go and start earning money from federation account, which has been our fear. So we are watching them. We’ve left them. Let them fix the road,” he explained.
Umahi also rejected claims that the poor condition of the Benin-Asaba route was evidence of marginalisation of the Southeast, pointing to several major road interventions undertaken by the Tinubu administration along the Lagos-Southeast travel corridor.
He recalled that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, completed under President Tinubu, has significantly improved movement from Lagos towards the Southeast.
He also highlighted the rehabilitation of the 48-kilometre section leading towards Ore, where President Tinubu directed that concrete pavement be used because of the difficult condition of the road.
According to Umahi, one carriageway of the 48-kilometre section has already been completed, with work now progressing on the other carriageway. Solar lighting and tree planting are also being introduced as part of the broader improvement.
Before addressing the road situation, Umahi also expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s political prospects ahead of the 2027 presidential election, saying the President’s infrastructure investments and relationship with the Southeast were strengthening support for his administration.

Umahi
“President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, is going to win the 2027 election. He’s going to win,” Umahi said, expressing particular confidence in the President’s growing political standing in Anambra State.
He pointed to the performance of progressive candidates in the state’s recent off-cycle elections as evidence of increasing acceptance of the Tinubu administration and its policies.
Francis Nwaze, FIPMD
Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media)
August 30, 2026
Eereporter.com
Akwa Ibom
Aviation Development: FUTIA Deepen Commitment to Partner Ibom Air
Aviation Development: FUTIA Deepen Commitment to Partner Ibom Air
The Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Ikot Abasi(FUTIA), Professor Leo Daniel has pledged the commitment of the University to partner airlines operating in the country through the training of man-power needs in the aviation industry.
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The FUTIA Vice Chancellor made the remarks on behalf of the University on Tuesday 1st September 2026 during the official reception/Water Canon Ceremonies for the Brand-New Airbus A220-300 Series Aircraft procured by the Akwa Ibom State Government for Ibom Air held at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
“As Ibom Air is expanding and increasing her fleets, routes and operations, the Federal University of Technology Ikot Abasi (FUTIA), is strategically positioned and committed to training various categories of man-power needed to drive the aviation sector”, the FUTIA VC stressed.
“Our flagship degree programme in the University is Aerospace Engineering and we are positioned to playing critical role in the growth of the industry to exemplify Institutional-industry collaboration”, the VC added.
Professor Daniel who is the first Professor of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in Nigeria used the occasion to congratulate the Akwa Ibom government led by the Governor, His Excellency Pastor Umo Eno and the management of Ibom Air for the huge investment in the aviation sector which has given Ibom Air a pride of place in the sub national and the nation at large with increasing international routes, service and value addition to stakeholders.
The University Don expressed the readiness of the Institution to partner Ibom Air and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development (at the State and federal levels) to advance the frontiers of government’s vision in the sector.
The Vice Chancellor seized the opportunity to woo investors and stakeholders to partner the University in her ongoing efforts to establish an Aerodrome for the training, retraining, learning and research by the students of the flagship Aerospace Engineering in the University and other players in the sector with a view to growing indigenous man-power for the sector.

Ibom Air
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor has on behalf of the Management and the University community congratulated the government and people of Akwa Ibom State on the commissioning of Thirty Nine (39) Life-touching projects as parts of ceremonies for the 39th Anniversary Celebration of the Akwa Ibom State creation.
FUTIA Information and Public Relations Directorate
01092026
Eereporter.com
Economy
Enhancing Credible and Data-driven Macro-Assumptions for Budgeting and Economic Management
Enhancing Credible and Data-driven Macro-Assumptions for Budgeting and Economic Management
The Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning convened a Macroeconomic Data and Assumptions Validation Workshop on 29 August 2026, bringing together key fiscal and monetary data institutions across government.
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The objective is to ensure that Nigeria’s economic planning and budgeting is anchored on credible data, realistic assumptions and transparent methodologies.
A review of previous budget cycles showed significant gaps between some macroeconomic assumptions and actual outcomes, particularly for oil production and revenue. The workshop therefore agreed on measures to strengthen forecasting, improve coordination and reduce optimism bias in future budgets.
Key resolutions include:
Establishing a Standing Committee on Macroeconomic Data and Assumptions to provide validation, continuous review and report to the Economic Management Team.
Creating a central data repository so that government institutions work from a single, consistent set of economic data and assumptions.
Developing a unified national data reporting framework with standard definitions for revenue, expenditure and borrowing.
Strengthening fiscal and monetary policy coordination and improving the timeliness and quality of key national statistics, including employment, productivity and producer-price data.

Taiwo Oyedele
Subjecting the assumptions underpinning the MTEF/FSPand Budget to stronger methodology, sensitivity analysis and scenario testing before finalisation.
This is part of the government’s broader commitment to improve fiscal transparency, accountability and evidence-based economic management.
Better data leads to better assumptions. Better assumptions lead to better planning. And better planning should ultimately translate into better economic outcomes for Nigerians.
Eereporter.com
Economy
Full Details: Air Force Opens 2026 Recruitment for Tradesmen, Non-tradesmen
Full Details: Air Force Opens 2026 Recruitment for Tradesmen, Non-tradesmen
The Nigerian Air Force has announced the commencement of its 2026 recruitment exercise for qualified Nigerians seeking enlistment as tradesmen/women and non-tradesmen/women.
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The NAF, in a notice posted on its X handle on Wednesday, said the online application would be available from September 3 to October 14, 2026.
The notice read, “NAF Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) 47/2026 Recruitment Exercise is scheduled to commence on 3 September 2026, with online registration opening for suitably qualified Nigerians interested in joining the Service as Tradesmen/Women and Non-Tradesmen/Women.
“The registration is FREE OF CHARGE, and prospective applicants are advised to carefully review the eligibility requirements and application guidelines before submitting their applications.”
For full details, applicants are urged to visit the Force’s recruitment portal at https://nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng
NAF said applicants for tradesmen/women must be between 18 and 27 years old by March 1, 2027, while non-tradesmen/women applicants must be between 18 and 22 years old by the same date.
According to the notice, applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth, with a minimum height of 1.66 metres for males and 1.63 metres for females.
Applicants must also be medically, physically and psychologically fit and meet the NAF’s medical and employment standards.
The notice added that applicants for driving and other trades requiring a Trade Test must possess the relevant Trade Test certificate and meet the applicable SSCE requirements, while drivers must also have a valid driving licence.
For non-tradesmen/women, applicants must possess a minimum of five credits, including Mathematics and English, in the relevant examinations. They are also required to possess Primary School Certificates and Secondary School Testimonials.
The NAF said successful applicants would be required to complete an Acknowledgement Form, Parent/Guardian Consent Form and Local Government Area Attestation Form.
It said the attestation form could be signed by a military officer from the applicant’s state of origin not below the rank of Wing Commander in the NAF or equivalent rank in the Nigerian Army or Navy; a police officer of the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police or above; a substantive local government chairman or secretary; or a magistrate from the applicant’s state of origin.

Air Force
The attestation form must be accompanied by the applicant’s passport photograph and a photocopy of the signatory’s driver’s licence, National Identity Card or international passport.
The Air Force said the zonal general aptitude test for successful applicants would hold on a date to be communicated through the recruitment portal, adding that only successful candidates would be invited for interview.
Eereporter.com
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