The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce tolls on major roads across the country following the completion of ongoing construction and renovation projects.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, revealed this during an Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.

“We have the Lagos-Ibadan (Expressway), we are completing it and we are tolling it,” Umahi said.

Other key road projects such as the Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano Road, and Makurdi-9th Mile, among others, will also be tolled, according to the minister.

The former governor of Ebonyi State said that the tolling system is expected to generate substantial revenue for the Federal Government.

According to Umahi, private sector investors have been engaged to provide funds for the construction of these roads, in collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Works, to ensure the effective management of the toll system.

Speaking about the Keffi-Makurdi Road, which has been completed, Umahi noted that the government is working on a paperless payment system in partnership with the Ministry of Finance.

He assured that road users will see significant improvements in safety and convenience, factors he believes will encourage public acceptance of tolls.

“For example, we are completing the Lagos-Ibadan, we are working on Makurdi to 9th Mile in Enugu State, we are working from Abuja to Lagos. These roads are going to be tolled. But we are not just tolling them, we are bringing confidence in the use of these roads.

“If people can travel at night because we are bringing security, where the response time will be 10 minutes on the entire corridor, where you have solar light permanently there and then reduce travel time, and through the tolling, the roads are maintained, then, there will be confidence because Nigerians will pay if the roads are good,” Umahi said.

The minister further explained that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is treating road development as an investment, unlike previous administrations. He revealed that the current government inherited 300 damaged roads and bridges, and assured that new road construction projects would commence in all six geopolitical zones starting from October 1, 2024.

The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee for the Federation’s Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen to continue in his role as Head Coach of the Super Eagles, and lead the team in its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Libya next month.

The 58-year-old, in temporary charge of the squad he had led three times previously, steered the three-time African champions to a 3-0 defeat of Benin Republic and scoreless draw with Rwanda in Matchdays 1 and 2 earlier this month.

Eguavoen and the current technical crew that also includes Fidelis Ilechukwu, Daniel Ogunmodede, Olatunji Baruwa and Tomaz Zorec will also take charge of the Super Eagles B team for the qualifying campaign for next year’s African Nations Championship, otherwise known as CHAN.

With the departure of Mr. Randy Waldrum, the Executive Committee also approved the recommendation of the Technical and Development Sub-Committee for Coach Justin Madugu to lead the remaining technical crew and take charge of the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, pending the appointment of a substantive Head Coach.

The Super Falcons’ next big engagement is the Women Africa Cup of Nations finals, taking place in Morocco in the summer of next year.

The Federal Government has suspended several senior officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) over bribery allegations involving controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky.

In a statement released on Thursday by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, the government confirmed the suspension of the officers following a viral video noting alleged misconduct.

The statement, signed by Ja’afaru Ahmed, noted that the suspension was to facilitate a thorough investigation into the allegations, with the findings to be made public once concluded.

The suspended officers include Michael Anugwa, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kirikiri, Lagos, and Sikiru Adekunle, DCC in charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, also in Kirikiri.

Additionally, the Board suspended ASC II Ogbule Samuel Obinna, an officer at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Afikpo, Ebonyi State, for allegedly escorting a convicted inmate out of the facility without authorisation.

Another officer, Iloafonsi Kevin Ikechukwu, DCC in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja, was also suspended for allegedly receiving money on behalf of an inmate.

In a related development, the House of Representatives passed a resolution on Thursday to investigate bribery allegations involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the NCS, following accusations made by social media influencer Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.

During a plenary session, the resolution was adopted after a motion of urgent public importance was presented by Patrick Umoh, the representative for Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State.

Umoh raised concerns over allegations that the EFCC dropped money laundering charges against Bobrisky after receiving N15 million and that Bobrisky, convicted for defacing the naira, did not serve his sentence in a proper correctional facility.

“We are disturbed about the damning allegations against Nigerian critical law enforcement agencies—the EFCC and the NCS—established by this hallowed chamber to fight corruption and incarcerate convicted individuals for correctional purposes,” Umoh said.

The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, referred the matter to the Committees on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions, with a directive to report back within three legislative weeks.

For years, fashion enthusiasts have been faced with a daunting choice: comfort or style? No more! The latest trends prioritize both, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. In this article, we’ll explore the intersection of comfort and fashion.

The Rise of Athleisure Wear:

Athleisure wear has redefined the fashion landscape, combining comfort and style:

1. Stretchy fabrics
2. Relaxed silhouettes
3. Versatile pieces

Comfortable Fabrics:

1. Bamboo: Breathable, eco-friendly, and soft.
2. Cotton: Natural, breathable, and durable.
3. Tencel: Sustainable, moisture-wicking, and wrinkle-resistant.

Fashionable Yet Comfortable Pieces:

1. Sneakers: From running shoes to stylish statement makers.
2. Maxi Dresses: Flowy, effortless, and chic.
3. Oversized Cardigans: Cozy, versatile, and trendy.

Designers Prioritizing Comfort:

1. Athleta: Performance-driven, stylish apparel.
2. Lululemon: Technical, comfortable yoga pants.
3. Eileen Fisher: Elegant, minimalist, and cozy designs.

Tips for Combining Comfort and Style:

1. Invest in quality fabrics.
2. Balance loose and fitted pieces.
3. Accessorize thoughtfully.
4. Dress for your body type.

The Future of Fashion:

The comfort revolution is here to stay:

1. Sustainable materials.
2. Inclusive sizing.
3. Functional design.

Comfort and fashion are no longer mutually exclusive. Embrace the best of both worlds:

• Prioritize self-care through comfortable clothing.
• Express yourself through stylish choices.
• Join the comfort revolution.

President Bola Tinubu says Africa holds a significant portion of the world’s mineral reserves, including 92 per cent of global platinum, 56 per cent of cobalt, and 54 per cent of manganese, yet it is underdeveloped.

The president attributed the continent’s underdevelopment to the fact that the resources were primarily extracted and exported to foreign countries for refining and manufacturing.

Tinubu, represented by his Vice, Kashim Shettima,  stated this in a keynote address, during the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) meeting, held on the sidelines of the ongoing 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.

A statement on the event was made available to newsmen in Abuja by Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, the spokesperson of the vice president.

In the statement, the President noted that extracting raw minerals in Africa had continued to keep the continent in a state of poverty

According to him, the extraction of raw minerals without local processing only deepens Africa’s underdevelopment and prolongs its economic challenges.

Tinubu, therefore, stressed the urgent need for the continent to break free from the dependency.

“This has left the continent at the mercy of foreign markets, forcing it to repurchase finished products at much higher prices.

“A situation in which the raw minerals are extracted from our countries, exported, refined, and sold to us as finished products merely consolidates the foundations of our misery and pushes us further down the depths of underdevelopment,” he said.

The President called on African nations to adopt a new agenda that prioritised local value addition, which was essential to industrialising the continent and providing sustainable economic growth.

On the evolution of lithium-ion technology, Tinubu noted that the development had enabled the swift production and manufacturing of portable consumer electronics such as laptops, computers, cellular phones, and electric cars.

“We live in a world of electronic mobility in which lithium-powered batteries provide higher specific energy, higher energy density, higher energy efficiency, longer cycle life, and longer calendar life.

“The global need for new battery technology has triggered a new scramble for Africa’s critical minerals.

“Africa possesses 92 percent of global reserves of platinum, 56 per cent of Cobalt, 54 per cent of Manganese and 36 per cent of Chromium.

” These are the minerals employed in the manufacturing of the new batteries. In short, the world needs Africa today more than ever,” he said.

Tinubu further emphasised Africa’s determination to move beyond the historical exploitation of its resources, advocating the localisation of the entire mineral value chain within the continent.

He assured of his administration’s commitment to adding local value to Nigeria’s mineral resources as part of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group’s (AMSG) vision chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake.

Tinubu drew attention to Nigeria’s vast market of over 226 million people, adding that the success of the country’s 10 billion dollars telecoms market is proof of its growth potential

” This is evident in the manufacturing of Lithium batteries, concentrates and components to set up their business and domesticate the value chain from extraction to production in Nigeria.”

He affirmed that the AMSG was focused on transforming Africa from a supplier of raw materials into a global mining industry stakeholder.

On his part, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, who spoke in his capacity as the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, laid out the group’s vision to transform Africa’s mining industry through local value addition and industrialisation.

The minister criticised the traditional model of mineral extraction in Africa where raw materials are exported for processing abroad.

This, according to him, resulted in loss of economic opportunities and jobs on the continent.

He maintained that the pattern of trade had left African nations vulnerable, as they were forced to import finished goods at inflated prices.

Alake proposed a shift towards local value addition – processing raw minerals into finished goods within Africa – as a strategy for enhancing the continent’s economic independence and contributing more significantly to its GDP.

He acknowledged that, although the continent faces significant developmental challenges, Africa’s natural wealth provides a pathway to prosperity if leveraged correctly.

The General Secretary of AMSG, Mr Moses Engadu, called for a new vision and political will among African leaders to ensure value addition becomes a sacrosanct condition to granting mineral license to any investor.

The roundtable had representatives from investors, development partners, multilateral institutions, and major financial institutions in attendance. 

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the dates for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe had initially revealed that the qualifiers would begin in October 2024.

However, the competition department has now confirmed that the first round will be held from October 25-27 and November 1-3.

The second round is scheduled for December 20-22 and 27-29.With three host nations already securing slots, an additional spot will be awarded to the team with the best result in the CECAFA qualifiers.

This will increase the total number of qualified teams for the final tournament to 19.

Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will participate in the qualifiers, with the final tournament set to take place from February 1-28, 2025, across the three host countries.