NEWS
Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway: Tinubu meets Kebbi People’s Aspirations – Gov. Idris

Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi, says the yearnings and aspirations of Kebbi people have been addressed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Idris made the statement when a delegation of the Federal Government led by Minister of Works, Mr Dave Umahi, undertook an inspection tour of ongoing Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway project in Kebbi on Tuesday.
The delegation included Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen.
Atiku Bagudu, State Minister for Works, Alhaji Muhammad Bello-Goronyo and Permanent Secretary of the ministry among others.While inspecting the project, Gov. Idris said, “In Kebbi, we don’t play with Mr President, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done so many things in the state, some things that we have not witnessed before.
“It’s pertinent to show our appreciation to Mr President through the honourable Minister of Works. Already, the yearnings and aspirations of people of Kebbi have been addressed by Mr President.”
He also observed that the essence of leadership was to bring development to the people, adding that Mr President had brought uncountable development to the people of Kebbi.
“Therefore, we have no cause whatsoever not to support Mr President. By God’s grace, people of Kebbi will support him come 2027,” he assured.
Idris promised that the state government would create an enabling environment for HITECH, the company handling the project to execute the project successfully.
The governor expressed delight that shortly after breaking of fast with Mr President on Monday, the president singled him out of his colleagues, governors, and confided in him that,” the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway has come to stay.”
In his speech, Umahi clarified that the legacy projects of Mr President covered all the six geopolitical zones of the federation.
He appreciated Gov. Idris for not only showing total commitment towards the success of the project but also committed to Mr president’s programmes.
“I must appreciate you, you are doing fantastically well and most importantly, your relationship with the past governors, your respect for them, your honour for them, God will also honour you as such.
“Whoever that will takeover from you after eight years will also honour and respects you and I want to assure you that the president’s heart is in this place,” he said.
The minister expressed confidence in the ability of the company handling the project, HITECH, especially with the calibre of equipment they mobilised to the cites.
Umahi recalled that the present administration had inherited a project of 350 kilometres Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road, adding that they inherited 240 kilometres times two (×2) making 480 kilometres.
The minister expressed happiness that Mr President had released the section one and three 30 per cent of the approved contract sum for the remaining 240×2 kilometres Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road.
He said the president had also approved the two projects of second Niger bridge, “sections 2A and 2B, one in Anambra, the other one is in Delta State as well as Lagos-Ibada, section 2, phase 2, 30 per cent has been approved.”
On his part, Sen. Bagudu said president Tinubu had inherited a number of uncompleted projects, but the president promised that none of them would be abandoned.
He eulogised the president’s profound thinking that “the world is not” building infrastructure from government funding alone but also innovative financing.
“And being somebody who has invested in relationships in Nigeria and elsewhere, he was quick to find friends of Nigeria, sons of Nigeria, who are willing to take the first challenge and fund part of these constructions.
“So, HITECH is not just a construction company but it is behind the innovative financing that has supported us to have started this transformative projects, not only this one but also Lagos-Calabar Costal Highway,” he noted.
Also speaking,, the Managing Director, HITECH, Dany Abboud assured the determination of the company to deliver a quality job within the stipulated period of time. (NAN)
Environment
First Lady Seeks Lasting Solution to Eradicate Environmental Pollution

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has called for a lasting solution to eradicate environmental pollution caused by plastic wastes.
In her message to mark the year 2025 World Environment Day, with the theme ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’, in Abuja on Thursday, the first lady also advised people to curtail the way they consume food and drinks packaged in plastics.
“I join millions of Nigerians and the world in calling for urgent and united action to safeguard our environment.
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, affecting our health, our environment, and our future.“In Nigeria, we must rise to this challenge by changing how we consume packaged food items and how we dispose of plastic containers and bags.
“I particularly want to speak to our youths, the leaders of tomorrow, be it in schools or within our neighborhoods, each of you has a role to play in creating a cleaner, healthier and greener Nigeria,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu had recently promised to introduce environmental solutions clubs to schools through her NGO, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
“I want to use this opportunity to introduce our students to two programmes that the RHI will be launching soon.
“First is the Environment Club for Secondary School Students and the Environment Society for Students in Tertiary institutions nationwide to help us clean up our environment and grow more trees.
“Second is the “Flow with Confidence” for our girls in rural communities.
“This programme is to provide one year’s supply of disposable sanitary pads to our adolescent girls to support them to remain in school during their menstrual cycle,” She said.
NAN further reports that some of the functions of RHI environmental clubs in schools would include raising environmental awareness; fostering social and life skills; empowering students to take action and promoting sustainable behaviours.
The clubs can also enhance critical thinking and creativity, encourage healthy lifestyles, and strengthen communities.
The club would encourage students to participate in various environmental projects, like tree planting, recycling, and garden projects, gaining practical experience and deeper understanding.(NAN))
Foreign News
Trump Bans Citizens of 12 Countries from Entering U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation on Wednesday evening banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States.The countries affected are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Nationals from these countries will be “fully” restricted from entering the U. S., according to the proclamation. Similarly, the entry of nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela will be partially restricted.The proclamation is effective on June 9, 2025 at 12:01 am EDT (5:01am Nigerian time).Trump said the move was needed to protect the U.S. against “foreign terrorists” and other security threats.“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” Trump said in a video posted on X.The U.S. President said the list could be revised and new countries could be added.He said the countries subject to the most severe restrictions were determined to harbour a “large-scale presence of terrorists”.He alleged others failed to cooperate on visa security and had an inability to verify travellers’ identities, inadequate record-keeping of criminal histories and high rates of visa overstays in the U.S..“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States,” Trump said.Trump’s directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and “anywhere else that threatens our security”.Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the U.S. to detect national security threats.That order directed several cabinet members to submit a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their “vetting and screening information is so deficient.”During his first term in office, Trump had announced a ban on travellers from seven countries, a policy that generated so much controversies before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.However, former President Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump, repealed the ban in 2021, calling it “a stain on our national conscience.” (NAN)NEWS
Otuaro Lauds King Ateke Tom’s Contribution to Peace in Niger Delta
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro has congratulated the traditional ruler of the Okochiri Kingdom in Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, King Ateke Tom on the occasion of his 61st birthday.Otuaro was among prominent guests that graced the colourful birthday celebration of King Ateke at his palace in Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Area, on Monday.
He described the Rivers monarch as “a respectable leader whose reign has brought about unity, peace, progress and development around his community. ”He stressed that King Ateke, who is also the ‘Sekuro of the Niger Delta’, was a great asset who had contributed immensely to the peace, stability, security and development of the region.Otuaro expressed his utmost regard for the traditional institution and the vital role of traditional rulers in the peace and development of communities in the Niger Delta.He noted that traditional rulers were among the critical stakeholders that the PAP was collaborating with to strengthen the programme’s peace-building process in the region.He reiterated that the programme was in safe hands, and strongly motivated by President Bola Tinubu to bridge the region’s human capital development gap through formal education scholarships and vocational training in aviation, maritime, agriculture, and other relevant trade areas.Otuaro said his policy of inclusivity had ensured the involvement of Niger Delta women in the programme’s initiatives, stressing that there were plans designed for their empowerment and contribution to the region’s socio-economic growth.He emphasized that he was focused on rendering quality service to the people of the region, and not distracted by the shenanigans of his detractors.Otuaro called on all stakeholders of the region to remain steadfast in the effort to sustain the prevailing peace in the region so that socio-economic and developmental activities could thrive around the communities.While expressing appreciation to King Ateke for his unwavering support to the programme, the PAP boss prayed to God to grant him long reign, longevity and good health.