By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

Prince Adewole Adebayo has criticised the Federal Government’s decision to shut down access roads around the Federal Secretariat Complex and Eagle Square for the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention, describing it as an abuse of office and misuse of state resources.

Adebayo said the directive, which effectively halted physical government operations and restricted movement in the area, blurred the line between state functions and partisan political activities.

He argued that public infrastructure and the time of civil servants should not be deployed to serve the interests of any political party.

His comments followed a circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation announcing the closure of all access roads leading to and around the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phases I, II and III, from Friday, March 27 to Saturday, March 28, 2026.

The circular, signed by Dr. Abdul S. U. Garba, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, stated that the measure was due to the use of Eagle Square for the APC National Convention scheduled for the same period.

As a result, all personnel working within the affected offices, including those at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were directed to work from home on Friday, March 27.

The directive also instructed Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure that staff comply strictly with the work-from-home order.

The road closures are expected to disrupt traffic and economic activities in the area, with commuters and businesses bracing for limited access and delays throughout the two-day period.

Observers say the development has reignited debate over the appropriate use of public facilities and whether government operations should be adjusted to accommodate political party events.
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By David Torough, Abuja

Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention in Abuja, the Federal Government has ordered civil servants within the Federal Secretariat Complex to work from home, citing extensive security and logistical arrangements around the event.

In a circular issued by the Head of Service through the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Abdul Garba, all access roads leading to the Federal Secretariat Phases I, II, and III will be closed from Friday, March 27 to Saturday, March 28, 2026.

The move, according to the government, is to facilitate the use of Eagle Square, the venue of the APC convention, which is expected to attract thousands of party members, dignitaries, and observers from across the country.

Consequently, affected workers have been directed to remain off-site on Friday, while heads of ministries, departments, and agencies have been tasked with ensuring full compliance.

Meanwhile, preparations for the convention have intensified, with the party confirming the arrival of 8,453 accredited delegates in the nation’s capital. The Chairman of the Convention Central Working Committee, Bello Masari, reaffirmed the party’s readiness and defended its zoning arrangement for National Working Committee (NWC) positions.

Masari dismissed complaints from some aspirants who alleged exclusion after purchasing nomination forms, insisting that all positions were allocated based on the federal character principle. He stressed that only candidates from designated zones are eligible to contest specific offices, warning that any deviation could undermine party unity.

He further stated that the party was unaware of any legal action from aggrieved aspirants but would respond appropriately if served.

Also speaking ahead of the exercise, the Minister of Information and Chairman of the Convention Media and Publicity Committee, Mohammed Idris, assured that the process would be transparent and credible. He urged journalists to maintain professionalism and patriotism in their coverage.

As the convention gets underway, major roads leading to Eagle Square remain cordoned off, contributing to restricted movement across key parts of Abuja. The convergence of delegates and heightened security presence signals the scale and significance of the ruling party’s gathering.

By David Torough, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) to include electric vehicles (EVs), the Presidency said on Thursday.

The initiative will now be known as the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PiCNG & EV).

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the development in a statement titled “President Tinubu approves expansion of PiCNG mandate to include electric vehicles.

It read “With this approval, PiCNG & EV will lead and coordinate Nigeria’s clean mobility strategy, covering gas-driven vehicles and Electric Vehicles nationwide.

“The Initiative will continue to drive the deployment of CNG infrastructure, including Mother and Daughter Stations, Integrated Refuelling Units, CNG vehicles and equipment, and nationwide conversion programmes.”

Onanuga said it will also anchor the development and rollout of electric vehicles, EV charging infrastructure, and related investments nationwide.

Consequently, Tinubu has directed the Executive Chairman of PiCNG & EV to immediately establish a coordinated process for the rapid deployment of vehicle conversion kits across the country and ensure that such kits are accessible to Nigerians at a cost that is not burdensome.

To achieve this, the initiative will work with CreditCorp Nigeria, financial institutions, and relevant partners to design cost-effective financing structures that make vehicle conversions widely accessible to the public.

The President further directed the accelerated deployment of Mobile Refuelling Units to expand access to CNG while permanent infrastructure continues to scale.

According to the statement, gas remains a competitive and strategic fuel for transportation, leveraging Nigeria’s abundant resources to lower costs, strengthen energy security, and conserve foreign exchange.

The inclusion of electric vehicles further strengthens the government’s agenda for affordable, efficient, and environmentally responsible mobility.

The Presidential CNG Initiative was launched in 2023 as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to cushion the impact of petrol subsidy removal and promote cleaner energy alternatives for transportation.

Nigeria has one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world, estimated at over 200 trillion cubic feet, making CNG a potentially cheaper alternative to petrol for powering vehicles.

The initiative has been deploying CNG conversion centres and refuelling stations across the country, with plans to convert one million vehicles to run on compressed natural gas.