POLITICS
CODE Empowers Communities to Track 47 Projects Worth $2.8m in Kaduna
Connected Development (CODE) said 47 projects worth $2.8million have been tracked by communities in Kaduna State through its Deepening Citizens’ Interest in Government Spending and Addressing Accompanying Corrupt Practices (DeSPAAC) project.
Mr Hamzat Lawal ,Chief Executive Officer, CODE made this known at the closeout of the DeSPAAC project in Abuja, funded by the MacArthur Foundation.
According to Lawal, the project is a testament to the power of collaboration and the impact a committed group of individuals can achieve in their communities.
He said that CODE leveraged on its FollowTheMoney model to embark on the DeSPAAC project, with a clear vision to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
Lawal said that the aim was to also ensure that government spending directly translated into meaningful development in Kaduna State.
He said, “We set out on a journey to engage with both citizens and government, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and a collaborative approach to governance.
“Since the project’s inception in 2021, we have made significant strides, tracking an impressive NGN 9,397,800,000.00 (USD 2.8 million) across 47 projects.
”We directly reached 30 communities with a total population of approximately 990,000 people from the three senatorial zones in Kaduna State.
“These numbers are more than just statistics; they represent lives touched, needs met, and a shared commitment to a better future.
“During our journey, we encountered a common challenge ;projects nominated by legislators often did not align with the actual needs of their constituents. ”
According to Lawal, in response, CODE developed the “constituency nomination and monitoring tool”.
He explained that the model allowed constituents to actively participate in the project selection process, thus ensuring that the projects truly addressed their needs.
Lawal added that it has also enabled legislators to exercise more effective oversight functions over the projects.
“The impact of our collective efforts is best reflected in the tangible improvements experienced by communities.
“In Chikaji, Sabon Gari, Zaria, a community without a Primary Health Centre (PHC) and forced to share one with a neighboring community, now has a fully functional PHC worth N50,000,000.00.
“In Sabon Gari, a classroom block valued at N12,500,000.00 now stands, providing much-needed educational infrastructure,”he said
Lawal said that another significant transformation tool place in Pala, Ikara Local Government Area, where a previously under-equipped Primary Health Centre now boasts access to over 80 medical equipment.
He said that they included hospital beds, mattresses, examination couches, syringes, needles, forceps jars, weighing scales, and diagnostic sets, greatly improving the community’s access to quality healthcare.
The CEO said that the organisation’s approach, the ‘Constituency Nomination and Monitoring Tool’, has empowered constituents to play a more active role in project selection and implementation.
Lawal said that CODE brought legislators and their constituents together, fostering collaboration, transparency, and accountability in the governance process.
“Today, we stand on the cliff of change, where the lessons we have learnt and the successes we have achieved can pave the way for a more transparent, accountable, and efficient governance system.
“I call on legislators, governments’ representatives, and citizens to seize this opportunity to forge innovative ideas, bridge gaps, and promote greater transparency in our journey towards enhanced governance transparency,”he said
Lawal said that the DeSPAAC project was just the beginning,as CODE would continue to build on the foundations to actively engage citizens, legislators, and government representatives in a united effort to “strengthen the ties that bind us.”
He said ,”We all have a responsibility to ensure that the resources dedicated to various constituencies result in meaningful development are equitably distributed and efficiently managed.”
Rep. Hussaini Jallo, representing Igabi Federal constituency in the state, reiterated the commitment of his colleagues to sustainable development.
Jallo said that the developments in their constituencies would be in the areas of infrastructural developments like roads, electricity, education, health, water and security, among others.(NAN)
NEWS
Tinubu’s Re-election: Don’t Allow Repeat of 2023, Tompolo Tells Lagos
Leader of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Government Ekpemupolo, has advised the people of Lagos State not to allow a repeat of what played out in the 2023 election in the state in the 2027 presidential election.
He called on the people to take advantage of the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote massively for one of their own, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ekpemupolo, widely known as Tompolo, who was represented by Kestin Pondi, gave the charge in Lagos, on Tuesday, during a campaign rally for Tinubu’s reelection, during which he also presented 57 campaign vehicles to state coordinators.
“What happened in 2023 must not repeat. He must win convincingly in 2027,” he said.
He described Tinubu as a selfless and courageous leader who did not care about his reelection but went on carrying out bold reforms that are already yielding results and which many Nigerians are benefitting from.
Ekpemupolo pointed out that, the fact that Lagos is today referred to as a city for all Nigerians is all thanks to the foundation laid by President Tinubu, which successive governors have built on, and now that he has a higher responsibility, there was the need for his own people to stand solidly behind him.
“Lagos is the city for all Nigerians because someone stood firm to restructure and reform it. “From the time he came into office in 1999 up to 2007 that he left, Lagos was the envy of other states.
“Today, he has a higher responsibility, an opportunity to replicate the Lagos success story in Nigeria through reforms. There is massive development across the states today because reforms are working,” he stated.
Ekpemupolo said to ensure that the reforms continue, the people of Lagos and all Nigerians must take the message to every door and everyone that Tinubu is the man for Nigeria.
Also speaking, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, pointed out that Nigeria was attaining economic stability under the Tinubu-led administration.
He advised the people to ignore the antics of opposition politicians who have no plan for Nigeria, but only desperate to win elections and have been moving from one party to another, demonstrating a lack of consistency, which he emphasised was bad quality for any leader.
Sanwo-Olu said Tinubu has constructed more roads than previous administrations in three years, given succour to students, increased minimum wage and made money available for payment of pensions.
“Why won’t we vote for him? The entire Lagos is for Tinubu. All our votes are for Tinubu. You’ve done it before, you’ll do it again. “We will touch every corner of Lagos with our message to reelect Tinubu. Go out and convince everyone that Tinubu is the candidate to vote,” the governor stated.
Earlier, National Coordinator of the movement, Sunday Asuku, urged the people of Lagos to go out and get their PVCs to enable them vote massively for Tinubu.
“We must stand our ground and deliver Tinubu with PVCs, not with guns or intimidation. Lagos must not put their son, Tinubu, to shame,” he stated.
He said in the 2027 presidential election, Nigerians must make a bold statement to retire “serial contesters” who he described as “enemies of Nigeria.”
POLITICS
Mbah Reaffirms Enugu’s Commitment to Trade, Investment, Industrial Growth
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for trade, investment and industrial development as part of efforts to accelerate economic growth and improve the wellbeing of residents.
Governor Mbah, represented by the Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Dr.
Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, disclosed this at the Amadeo Business Summit 5.0 in Enugu.The five-day summit, themed “Sustaining Growth & Soaring,” brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, government institutions and other stakeholders at the Amadeo Event Centre to explore strategies for sustainable business growth and economic development.
The Commissioner noted that the state government remained committed to promoting investment, supporting businesses and industries, improving the ease of doing business and creating favourable conditions for investors to thrive.
He described the private sector as a critical partner in driving sustainable economic development, generating employment and expanding opportunities for the people. He also assured investors that Enugu remained open to credible investments and strategic partnerships capable of strengthening the state’s productive base.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ifeanyi Onah deliverimh a goodwill message urged participants to apply the knowledge and insights gained at the summit to their respective fields and businesses, while encouraging them to participate in the next edition, Amadeo Business Summit 6.0, to sustain the exchange of ideas and strengthen business collaboration.
The summit featured sessions on business leadership, transformation, youth empowerment, skills development, entrepreneurship, real estate, finance and small and medium-sized enterprise development. The state government reiterated its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote trade, investment and industrial growth in line with Governor Mbah’s “Tomorrow Is Here” agenda.
POLITICS
2027: Tinubu ‘ll Deliver Prosperity If Re-elected, First Lady Assures
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu will deliver on his promise to transform the country and usher in prosperity if re-elected for a second term in the 2027 general elections.
She gave the assurance in Lafia, Nasarawa State, during the grand rally of the North-Central Grassroots Mobilisation Network, organised to mobilise support for the re-election of President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The rally attracted a large turnout of APC supporters from across the North-Central geopolitical zone, alongside top party leaders, including the APC National Chairman, Prof.
Nentawe Yilwatda; Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; and other governors from the region.Speaking at the event, Mrs. Tinubu said the President’s Independence Day message, titled “From Reforms to Prosperity,” reflected the administration’s commitment to translating ongoing economic reforms into improved living conditions for Nigerians.
She said the economy was beginning to stabilise, while foreign exchange pressures were easing and investors were returning to the country.
“The Independence Day message of Mr President was titled ‘From Reforms to Prosperity’. Therefore, Mr President is saying that they are going to reform the sectors, but now is the time for prosperity, and we can see our economy is stabilising,” she said.
The First Lady also commended governors for their infrastructure development efforts, noting that their contributions were helping to advance the country’s development.
Mrs. Tinubu said the Federal Government was also intensifying efforts to address food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
She explained that the administration’s food bank programme was designed to improve access to nutritious food and provide support for malnourished children to help them grow healthily.
“As you see now, we have just finished the food bank programme, where we are helping every child and mothers who are pregnant and also breastfeeding.
“This is to ensure that they can have more nutritious food, and also the children that are malnourished can get treatment and food to grow healthy,” she said.
She added that young people in schools were also benefiting from government support, urging party supporters to take the administration’s achievements and policies to their respective communities.
Mrs. Tinubu described President Tinubu as a bold leader willing to make difficult decisions in the interest of the country, expressing confidence in his ability to lead Nigeria towards prosperity.
She urged residents of the North-Central region to convince voters that the country could achieve better outcomes if President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima secured another term.
The First Lady further said the administration was committed to building a stronger economy, safer communities and a greater Nigeria.
She called on the electorate to support the APC at all levels in the 2027 general elections, arguing that continuity would help sustain the government’s policies and development agenda.
“Therefore, vote for continuity, vote for capacity, vote for prosperity, vote for the re-election of Mr President and all the candidates of APC from top to bottom,” she added.
Other speakers at the rally also urged Nigerians to vote for President Tinubu and APC candidates in the 2027 elections, describing continued support for the party as an opportunity to sustain the administration’s programmes and development plans.


