President Bola Tinubu says the Federal Government plans to complete the 284 kilometre Kano-Jigawa-Katsina-Maradi rail project by 2026.Tinubu stated this on Friday in Katsina, at the inauguration of the Katsina State Agricultural Mechanisation Centre and a 24-kilometre Eastern Bypass, all established by the state government.

“Federal Government plans to complete the 284 kilometre Kano-Jigawa-Katsina-Maradi rail project by 2026. “When finished, the project will ease the transportation of persons and goods, thereby relieving the pressure on our roads,” he said.Tinubu also said that the government has awarded contract for the total rehabilitation of the Marabar Kankara-Dutsinma-Katsina Road.“Zaria-Hunkuyi-Dabai-Kafur-Malumfashi-Dayi-Gidan mutumdaya Road has also been awarded.“We are determined to deliver these roads on schedule,” the president vowed.He also assured the people of the state that the Federal Government would complete the remaining second phase of Katsina-Kano Road.“We have resolved the previous technical and bureaucratic challenges, work is ongoing,” Tinubu said.The president commended Gov. Dikko Radda for the giant strides in the agriculture and infrastructure development in the state.Radda thanked the Federal Government for providing for providing over 6,000 water pumping machines to irrigation farmers.He said that the state had spent over N2 billion on the purchase of 448,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser for farmers in 2024.Radda added that the government would on Monday launch the distribution of about 400,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser to the farmers for 2025.He also said that the government had increased the number of extension workers from 72 to over 778.(NAN)

A group of legal practitioners, under the auspices of Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), has called on United States of America to support the state of emergency in Rivers, declared by President Bola Tinubu.The group, led by Mr Beeior Orpin, made the call on Friday in a petition submitted to the U.

S Embassy in Abuja after a peaceful walk. Daily Asset recalls that Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in the state and suspended Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Gov. Ngozi Odu and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.Consequently, he announced the appointment of Retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the sole administrator of the state. Report also says that the emergency rule was declared following the face-off between the Fubara and the state assembly, resulting in threats of violence and protest by some stakeholders in the state.Orpin said that under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the president had discretionary powers to proclaim a state of emergency if public safety and public order were in danger.He said that Tinubu had to wade in because Rivers, under the suspended governor, was on the verge of anarchy, following the demolishment of the legislative arm of government in the state.Orpin said that Nigeria and the United States shared similar democratic principles, saying that there was the need for shared support at a time like this.“Lives and property were in grave danger in Rivers before the president’s intervention. Since then, calm has returned and the process of enduring peace, law and order is in progress.“We thank the president for his timely action and request that the United States, as the bastion of democracy, support him to entrench law and order in our country,” he said.Also speaking, Ms Sandra Ezeoke, a member of the group, explained the rationale behind their decision to draw the attention of the American government to the proclamation of emergency rule in Rivers.Ezeoke said they were at the embassy because there had been lots of misconception about the action taken by Tinubu and the National Assembly.“The law is trite that any administrative action taken is valid until set aside by a court of law.“Right now, the administrative action that has been taken is the state of emergency declared by Tinubu and it remains valid until it is set aside by the court.“That matter is in court and it is not out of place, as members of the public, to start deciding upon it. We chose the US embassy because as we know, the father of democracy is a former president of the U.S.“We feel that if there is any country that is going to guide us properly because democracy is not an indigenous idea of Nigeria, it is going to be the U.S.,” she said.Report says that the inscriptions on some of the placards carried by the legal practitioners read: “Emergency rule in Rivers constitutional”, “Section 305 provides for emergency rule”, “Emergency rule in Rivers State is legal” and “Fubara demolished the legislature, it is a danger to democracy.” (NAN)

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has placed its search and rescue team on high alert following expected rains in FCT and neighbouring states.

The acting Director-General (D-G) of FEMD, Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed, disclosed this on Friday in a statement signed by the department’s Head of Public Affairs in Abuja.

Mohammed said that the move was to avert avoidable loss of lives and properties, following the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET)’s early warning.

He said that NIMET had revealed that thunderstorms were being experienced in some parts of Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states.

He added that the weather alert issued by NiMET, which was expected to last ip to May 3, also claimed that FCT and its neighbouring states might experience thunderstorms in the coming days.

“According to the forecast, strong winds may precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur.

“Other states that may be affected according to the weather forecast include Edo, Imo, Abia and Anambra states,” he said.

The acting D-G urged FCT residents to avoid driving under heavy rains, adding that people should equally stay away from trees to avoid the impact of falling branches.

He further advised that all electrical appliances should be disconnected, especially when it is raining.

Mohair reiterated the department’s commitment to the protection of life and property.

He appealed to residents to always use the 112 emergency toll-free number in the event of an emergency. (NAN)