NEWS
Ilorin East Council Denies Rejecting N200m Healthcare Project
From Abdullahi Abubakar, Ilorin
Following our unsuccessful efforts at getting a response from the Executive chairman of Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Hon. Lukman Olayinka Agbelere, on Wednesday, the Ilorin East Local Government Council has finally responded, debunking claims that its Chairman, Mallam Agbelere, rejected a N200 million renovation project reportedly facilitated by Senator Saliu Mustapha for the Awodi Primary Healthcare Centre, at Gambari Ward-1.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Bawa Haruna Ibrahim, the council described the allegations as misleading and designed to create unnecessary tension among stakeholders. It maintained that the narrative being circulated in the media distorts the facts.The council explained that on May 19, 2025, it received a letter from the Gambari-1 Progressive Forum referencing an earlier appeal to Senator Mustapha in July 2023 to upgrade the Awodi Primary Healthcare Centre. The letter also mentioned a classroom block project, delivered by the senator in 2024.However, the council stated that parts of the timeline and events in the forum’s letter did not align with the actual sequence of activities, raising doubts about the accuracy of the claims.The statement further revealed that another letter dated July 16, 2025, informed the council of Senator Mustapha’s approval for the renovation. But the council clarified that the facility’s upgrade was already captured in its 2025 budget as part of planned improvements to local healthcare infrastructure.The council stressed that it had not received any formal communication from Senator Mustapha or his office about a N200 million allocation. It argued that such an amount would be more suitable for constructing a new healthcare facility rather than renovating the existing one.According to the statement, Hon. Agbelere has always welcomed development initiatives and Federal interventions but insists that proper coordination with local authorities is crucial to avoiding project duplication and ensuring transparency.The council cited the collaborative approach of former Senator, Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, who worked with State and Local Governments on health projects such as the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Budo-Egba and the National Health Insurance Authority office in Ilorin.The statement also addressed comments attributed to the Chairman regarding political loyalty, clarifying that his remarks only reflected his unwavering support for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whose administration, it said, has delivered unprecedented development across the State.Reiterating its commitment to the Awodi Healthcare Centre renovation, the council said the project was already approved after consultations with all 12 councillors. It urged the public to disregard misleading reports and support genuine efforts to improve healthcare and overall development in Ilorin East.NEWS
They Planted Juju in my Jacket at Davido’s House – Peruzzi
Singer Peruzzi has narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket during his stay at Davido’s house.
Peruzzi was signed to Davido’s record label, DMW, in 2017.
Davido dissolved the label in April 2024.
However, discussing his experience during his stay at Davido’s house, Peruzzi narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket.
Speaking in a video interview online, he said, “I took a shower one evening, like at 6 pm. Just a shower and then went to go and meet them back downstairs because I was chilling there before I went upstairs in David house when I was still living there.
“And then I was done taking the shower. I go to my wardrobe to get my clothes, and then one of my jackets is just telling me, ‘Pull me, wear me, wear me, wear me.’ I don’t know how to explain it, but I was just having the urge to wear it.”So, I carry am (the jacket), and something just dropped inside, and when I looked, it was jaz, better juju inside my room. A jacket that just came from the laundry.”
NEWS
AFSNET Business Conference Kicks off in Calabar
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
The 6th African sub – sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference has started in Calabar the cross river state capital as Afreximbank opens a $2 billion tap for Cross River State and other African sub-sovereign governments for the financing of bankable projects that can turn around their economies.
Making the disclosure in Calabar in a press briefing, The Director, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Afreximbank, Dr.
Gainmore Zanamwe, said the 6th African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference (AfSNET 2026) is going to be a three day event, running from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th November, 2026.Dr Zanamwe stated that, the Bank has the facility ready to finance. According to him, “Some people say funding is a problem. From Africa we say no. The $2 billion is there,” Zanamwe said. “Go and tell your people. You people in the media, go and tell people that money is there,” stressing that the bank is fully prepared to spend the next three days, November 12, 13 and 14, in Calabar enlightening states on how to access the fund. “How do you then access the funding? He asked.
“That is what we’ll be telling everybody in the course of the next three days. We’ll be showing you how you can tap into the $2 billion to do your projects. We’ll make it very simple.” He maintained.
Zanamwe stated that only states that present properly packaged, bankable projects will benefit. “We’ll start tomorrow with a training on how to identify projects in your states. Some normally start by saying there’s a project in this, they then run to the investors. It doesn’t work that way. We’ll be breaking it down,” he said.
“We would like, under the leadership of your Governor, to be able to start from the vision and say this is the vision in terms of promoting trade investment in your states. Once you start from that big vision, you cannot do everything. You need to focus. Identify two or three sectors that you really need to focus on and promote,” he added.
He explained that capital can be raised in two ways: by preparing a project and making it bankable for financial institutions like Afreximbank, or by preparing a pitch deck to generate interest from potential investors.
He also promoted Africa Direct Investment, saying an investor from Lagos or South Africa can as well enjoy the same privileges and incentives given to an investor from America.
He stressed that governors will pitch their projects on November 13 and 14, adding that in the last five years, the initiative has facilitated opportunities worth more than $3 billion, trained over 2,000 people, and worked with 21 African countries.
Also speaking on behalf of Governor Bassey Otu, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, welcomed investors to the state.
“With Cross River State’s agrarian economy being rejuvenated by this administration, for the first time a very deliberate attempt is being taken to be able to make sure that our diverse products are being properly processed to meet international standards,” Cobham said.
NEWS
RMAFC Advocates Fair Share of 13 Per Cent Revenue Derivation Among Oil Producing States
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has advocated a fair distribution of the 13 per cent derivation revenue among states that produce oil and gas.
The Chairman of the commission, Mohammed Shehu, made the appeal on Thursday in Owerri during the inauguration of an oil and gas wells verification exercise.
Shehu explained that the commission’s constitutional responsibilities under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, include monitoring revenue generated into and disbursed from the Federation Account, including funds allocated under the 13 per cent derivation arrangement.
He said the exercise would focus on identifying and confirming the geographical coordinates of disputed oil and gas wells, alongside newly drilled wells between 2017 and 2026.
According to him, an Inter-Agency Technical Committee established for the assignment would carry out physical inspections of the affected wells, verify their locations and ensure that their coordinates were accurately recorded using officially approved maps.
He added that the committee would also take relevant court judgments into consideration when addressing disputes involving oil and gas well locations.
Shehu said the committee would forward its technical findings directly to the commission for review, ratification and eventual adoption.
He described the verification exercise as essential to ensuring that revenue allocations from the Federation Account are accurate and fairly distributed, explaining that the geographical positions of oil and gas wells determine the financial entitlements of producing states.
“This exercise represents a crucial phase in establishing statutory accuracy, technical fidelity, and fiscal equity within the Federation Account allocation framework,” he said.
He further explained that the precise coordinates and geographical positions of oil and gas wells have direct implications for the legal and financial rights of the respective states.
The RMAFC chairman urged officials participating in the exercise to adhere strictly to professional surveying procedures, recognised maps and relevant legal requirements in carrying out their assignments.
He reiterated that the technical committee’s report would be submitted solely to the commission for administrative review and formal approval.


