FCT EXCO APPROVES RESUMPTION OF WORK ON ABANDONED UTAKO GENERAL HOSPITAL, UPGRADE OF ALL FCT GENERAL HOSPITALS

FCT Minister, Mr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, presiding over the 19th FCT Executive Committee Meeting (on his right is the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

FCT EXCO APPROVES RESUMPTION OF WORK ON ABANDONED UTAKO GENERAL HOSPITAL, UPGRADE OF ALL FCT GENERAL HOSPITALS

…ALSO APPROVED, DIGITIZATION OF COURTS, RURAL SECURITY EXPANSION, AND MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES

The 19th Federal Capital Territory Executive Committee (FCT EXCO) meeting, presided over by the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, alongside the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has approved the immediate resumption of work on the abandoned Utako General Hospital in Abuja.

The Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, made the revelation while briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 on the outcome of the FCT EXCO Meeting regarding the health sector.

Dr Fasawe said work on the long-abandoned Utako General Hospital project will resume immediately, with approved plans covering its complete construction, equipping, and staffing.

While also highlighting other major outcomes of the EXCO regarding the health sector, the Health Secretary said the EXCO also approved the immediate award of contracts for the full renovation, rehabilitation, and modern re-equipping of all FCT general hospitals.

According to her, “I am happy to say that the Minister has ordered the immediate award of renovation and rehabilitation of all the general hospitals in the FCT. And this is to include procurement of new equipment, x-ray machines, diagnostic materials, even all the way to the theatre. Also, the Utako General Hospital which has long been abandoned, he has also ordered for work to start on building, constructing, equipping, and staffing the Utako General Hospital”.

The Health Secretary said this will go a long way in making health care of the right quality available to the citizens of the FCT.

AMA EBONY - The Library Encounter

Ama Ebony in the Library

AMA EBONY - The Library Encounter

INT. UNIVERSITY LIBRARY – AFTERNOON

Rows of bookshelves line the quiet hall. Students are scattered at tables, reading and typing. AMA EBONY sits at a corner desk, focused on her notes. A male student, KOLA, approaches with a confident smile.

KOLA: (leaning casually on the desk) Ama Ebony, you always look so serious. Don’t you ever take a break?

AMA EBONY: (looks up briefly, calm but firm) Breaks are for when the work is done, Kola. Exams don’t wait for charm.

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AMA EBONY - The Election Debate

KOLA: (smiling wider) Charm? You wound me. I was only hoping to brighten your day. Maybe we could grab a drink later?

AMA EBONY: (sets her pen down, meeting his gaze) Kola, let’s be honest. You’ve asked me this before, and my answer hasn’t changed. Respect means listening when someone sets boundaries.

AMA EBONY - The Election Debate

Ama Ebony in the school hall

This episode of AMA EBONY is focused on campus politics — a theme that lets Ama Ebony’s sharp intellect and integrity shine through the chaos of student leadership and power plays.

AMA EBONY - The Election Debate

INT. UNIVERSITY AUDITORIUM – EVENING

Students fill the hall, murmuring with excitement. Banners of different student associations hang from the walls. AMA EBONY sits among the audience, notebook in hand. On stage, two student leaders — TUNDE and BISI — argue passionately about campaign promises.

TUNDE: (raising his voice) We need bold leadership! I’ll make sure every student gets free Wi-Fi and better hostel conditions.

BISI: (sarcastic) Promises are easy, Tunde. But leadership isn’t about slogans — it’s about accountability.

The crowd reacts with mixed cheers and laughter. Ama Ebony watches, her expression thoughtful.

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AMA EBONY: (quietly, to her friend ADA seated beside her) They’re both missing the point. Politics isn’t theatre — it’s service.

ADA: (grinning) You should be up there, Ama. You’d silence them both.

AMA EBONY: (smiling faintly) Silence isn’t the goal, Ada. Understanding is.

After the debate, Tunde approaches Ama Ebony near the exit.

TUNDE: (confidently) Ama, you’re respected on campus. Endorse me — your voice carries weight.

AMA EBONY: (pauses, then speaks calmly) Tunde, respect isn’t a currency to spend. It’s earned through truth. I don’t endorse people; I endorse principles.

Editorial Reports | At This Time

Symbolic Photo

Nigeria at this time is grappling with political debates over President Tinubu’s prolonged absence abroad, economic challenges including new World Bank loan talks, and security concerns with banditry and drug seizures. Globally, tensions remain high with the Iran war, Israeli military escalations, and financial markets tumbling due to surging oil prices and U.S. bond yields.

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Nigeria: Tinubu’s Absence and Political Reactions

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prolonged stay abroad has ignited heated debate across Nigeria’s political landscape. Opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have criticized his absence from key international engagements, questioning whether governance is being undermined. The Presidency insists Tinubu remains active, pointing to his remote facilitation of a $7 billion deep-sea port project in Ogun State. His expected return tomorrow, ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day celebrations, will likely calm tensions, but the episode has underscored the fragility of public trust in leadership continuity.

Only God can settle conflict between Tinubu, Aregbesola — Adeyeye

Only God can settle conflict between Tinubu, Aregbesola — Adeyeye

Only God Can Heal the Rift Between Tinubu and Aregbesola

In the ever-shifting landscape of Nigerian politics, few relationships have drawn as much attention as that between President Bola Tinubu and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Once allies bound by shared vision and party loyalty, their bond has frayed into a public rift that continues to cast a shadow over the All Progressives Congress (APC). Former Senator Olusola Adeyeye’s recent remarks underscore the depth of this divide, suggesting that reconciliation lies not in the hands of mediators or party elders, but in divine intervention and the willingness of the two men themselves to forgive each other.

Adeyeye, speaking on national television, was candid in his assessment: “When things get to be like this, only the two of them can forgive each other.” His words reflect both the gravity of the conflict and the limitations of political maneuvering in resolving personal grievances. As South-West Coordinator of the APC presidential campaign council, Adeyeye’s concern is not merely sentimental; he views reconciliation as a strategic necessity for Tinubu’s 2027 campaign. 

A united front in the South-West, he argues, is essential if the APC is to retain dominance in the region and secure victory at the polls.

Adeyeye, who is the South-West Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council, said he wanted the two political figures brought together because he believed their reconciliation would benefit the APC and Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign..

Yet, the path to unity is complicated. Aregbesola’s current affiliation with the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) presents a formidable obstacle. For him to abandon the party would risk alienating his loyal followers, many of whom have invested their political futures in his leadership within the ADC.

Adeyeye acknowledges this reality, noting that such a move “won’t look good to his admirers.” The tension between personal loyalty and political pragmatism is at the heart of this impasse.

Despite these challenges, Adeyeye remains confident in the APC’s prospects. He dismisses the ADC’s performance in recent elections as inconsequential, pointing out that Aregbesola himself was not a candidate. Still, he concedes that Aregbesola’s personal popularity remains formidable.

Adeyeye’s Bold Guarantee on Tinubu’s South-West Fortunes

 

This screengrab shows a former member representing Osun Central in the National Assembly, Olusola Adeyeye, fielding questions during an interview on Channels Television on September 27, 2026.

Adeyeye’s Bold Guarantee on Tinubu’s South-West Fortunes

As Nigeria edges closer to the January 16, 2027 presidential election, political rhetoric is intensifying, and few voices have been as emphatic as that of Olusola Adeyeye, former senator representing Osun Central and South-West Coordinator of the APC presidential campaign council.

Appearing on Channels Television, Adeyeye declared with striking confidence that President Bola Tinubu will not lose in the South-West, a region historically pivotal to electoral outcomes.

Adeyeye’s assertion rests on two pillars: unity within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the enduring political weight of Tinubu in the region. 

He argued that no party, under Nigeria’s current political configuration, can defeat the APC in the South-West if the party remains united. His words carried both a warning and a boast: opposition parties are deluding themselves if they believe the 2027 contest will be easy.

On the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South West, Adeyeye said that anyone from any...Current page. “I make bold: anyone from any party who thinks the next election will be easy for it is suffering self-delusion.

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The senator went further, promising not just victory but a resounding one. “We will win big,” he said, stressing that the APC is working “very hard” to secure the South-West vote. Even in a hypothetical scenario where Tinubu were to lose the region, Adeyeye reminded viewers of history: Olusegun Obasanjo once lost his ward, state, and zone in the South-West yet still ascended to the presidency.

 “In the worst scenario, let us say that Bola Tinubu lost the South-West; I guarantee you he will not. Did (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo not lose his ward, lose his polling booth, lose his state, lose his zone, lose ...”

I WILL LEAD PRESIDENT TINUBU’S REELECTION CAMPAIGN IN FCT – WIKE

FCT Minister, Mr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, addressing the Press at Chukuku, Kuje, during an inspection visit of the ongoing construction of Kuje-Gwagwalada Road, Phase 2 on Friday, September 25, 2026.

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

I WILL LEAD PRESIDENT TINUBU’S REELECTION CAMPAIGN IN FCT – WIKE

…SAYS ADMINISTRATION’S POSITIVE PERFORMANCE WILL TRANSLATE TO VOTES FOR THE PRESIDENT

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has declared that he will personally launch and lead the campaign team for the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu within the Federal Capital Territory.

The FCT Minister made the declaration on Friday, September 25, 2026, while speaking with journalists following an inspection tour of the ongoing dualisation of Phase II of the Kuje to Gwagwalada road designed to connect the Kuje Area Council directly to Gwagwalada.

The Minister noted that preparations by the political partys’ coalition supporting the President's reelection were fully in place, while both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President were also ready to kickstart the campaign process in the FCT.

According to him, "For us who are supporting Mr. President, we have put all our machinery ready to fully kick start.  Very soon, I will launch the campaign team for Mr. President in FCT, and I will lead the campaign for Mr. President in FCT. Thereafter, I will go back to my state and also continue. The party Mr. President belongs to, the APC, has also said it's ready. Mr. President is ready, and you can see the enthusiasm of the people".

Speaking on the ruling party’s prospects in the forthcoming elections in the FCT and the direct impact of governance on residents, the Minister noted that the warm reception and joy demonstrated by residents along the project corridor prove that performance is the most effective political strategy, adding that project delivery serves as the true "rigging" that secures votes.

"This is governance; this is what people are expecting, and this is what will translate to actual votes", the Minister said. "Without this, you can't get any vote. But with this, they will of course not waste time before putting their votes for Mr. President, for Senator Philip Aduda, and the two House of Representatives candidates. So, it’s not what somebody will go and say, 'Oh, there is rigging in the FCT.' The rigging is the project we are doing, and making the people happy".

Echoes of the Baobab – A Play

Princess Nia and a wandering warrior, Jabari

Echoes of the Baobab – A Play

Synopsis

In the ancient kingdom of Zuberi, the sacred Baobab Tree stands as the heart of life, its roots said to bind the spirits of ancestors. When drought and war threaten the land, a young Princess Nia and a wandering warrior, Jabari, must uncover the truth behind the fading magic of the Baobab. Their journey reveals betrayal, forbidden love, and the power of unity.

Characters and Characterisation

Character	Description
Princess Nia	Intelligent and brave, she defies royal expectations to save her people. Her compassion is her strength.
Jabari	A wandering warrior haunted by his past. His courage hides deep sorrow, but his loyalty to Nia rekindles hope.
Chief Baraka	The kingdom’s elder, keeper of the Baobab’s secrets. Wise but burdened by guilt for past mistakes.
General Kato	Ruthless commander who seeks to control the Baobab’s power for himself. Represents greed and corruption.

Setting

The story unfolds in Zuberi, a vast African kingdom surrounded by deserts and forests.

• The Baobab Grove: A sacred place where ancestors whisper through the wind.
• The Royal Court: A place of intrigue and deception.
• The Desert Frontier: Where Jabari and Nia face trials that test their faith and love.

The Full Story

Scene 1 – The Prophecy Under the ancient Baobab Tree, Nia kneels before Chief Baraka.

Baraka: “The tree’s roots weaken, Princess. The ancestors grow silent.” Nia: “Then we must listen harder. Silence is not death.” Baraka: “Only the union of courage and compassion can awaken the Baobab.” Nia: “And where shall I find courage, old one?” Baraka: “In the heart of a wanderer who carries sorrow like a blade.”

Scene 2 – The Meeting In the desert, Nia encounters Jabari, wounded and weary.

Nia: “You bleed, stranger.” Jabari: “Better to bleed than to bow.” Nia: “You speak like a warrior.” Jabari: “I was one. Until war taught me that victory can taste like ash.” Nia: “Then fight for something sweeter — fight for peace.”

Scene 3 – The Betrayal Back at the palace, General Kato confronts Nia.

Kato: “You consort with a vagabond while your people starve?” Nia: “He is no vagabond. He is the courage our kingdom lost.” Kato: “Courage cannot feed the hungry.” Nia: “Nor can greed.”

Atiku’s Campaign Council – A Coalition of Power and Strategy

File: Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has unveiled a sweeping Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 elections, naming Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as Chairman, Nasir El-Rufai as Deputy Chairman, Dele Momodu to head Media and Communications, and Dino Melaye to lead Contact and Mobilisation. The council is designed to reflect Nigeria’s pressing economic realities and includes a wide array of political heavyweights and technocrats.

Atiku’s Campaign Council – A Coalition of Power and Strategy

The unveiling of Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential Campaign Council marks a decisive moment in Nigeria’s political landscape as the ADC prepares for the 2027 general elections. The council’s composition is not only a reflection of Atiku’s political reach but also a deliberate attempt to balance technocratic expertise with grassroots mobilization.

At the helm is Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, serving as Chairman, with Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor, as Deputy Chairman. This pairing signals a blend of political experience and administrative acumen. Senator Austin Akobundu assumes the role of Director-General and Campaign Manager, tasked with translating strategy into coordinated action across the nation.

APO-KARSHI, BWARI-KUBWA ROADS WILL BE READY BY DECEMBER — FCT MINISTER

FCT Minister, Mr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, addressing a mammoth crowd during an inspection tour of ongoing construction work on the Bwari-Kubwa Road on Thursday, September 24, 2026

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

APO-KARSHI, BWARI-KUBWA ROADS WILL BE READY BY DECEMBER — FCT MINISTER

...SAYS PRESIDENT TINUBU WILL WIN THE FCT ON ACCOUNT OF ADMINISTRATION’S ACHIEVEMENTS

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has assured residents that the long-awaited Apo-Karshi road and the Bwari-Kubwa road will be completed by December this year and opened to residents.

The Minister gave the assurance in Abuja on Thursday, September 24, 2026, while addressing journalists, following an on-site inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects across satellite towns in the FCT.

He recalled that the Apo-Karshi road contract was originally awarded in 2010 but stalled under the previous administration, prompting the current administration to revoke and re-award it. He said the contractor had given assurances that the road will be handed over by November this year.

“I am so happy in the sense that we have been able to conquer the Apo Karshi road. You know the importance of that road. That road was awarded in 2010…. To the glory of God, today we were there, and we can see with our eyes that indeed by November they would have handed over that very important road", Wike said.

The Minister who was also in Bwari where excited residents turned out in large numbers during the inspection visit, said the contractor working on the Bwari-Kubwa road, SCC, has promised handover by the end of the year, despite delays caused by heavy rainfall.

He commended the Federal Government for expanding development beyond the city centre to satellite towns, noting that more than ten projects would be commissioned in the FCT before the next elections, exceeding an earlier pledge of just ten projects.

“Just like I said yesterday, the Tinubu Administration has redefined infrastructure delivery as far as FCT is concerned, not just within the city but also within the Satellite Towns”, the Minister stressed.

Responding to questions on the political outlook for the FCT ahead of the 2027 general elections, Wike expressed confidence in the ruling party's prospects, citing the administration's infrastructure record as evidence of good governance. He said he had no fear whatsoever that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other candidates, including Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, would win the FCT elections, urging residents to turn out and vote for candidates who have shown commitment to their welfare.

According to the Minister, “If really indeed that good governance is a barometer to measure whether a government has succeeded or not, then we have nothing to fear. If we are saying that we want to have a government that listens to us, we want to have a government that cares for us, we want to have a government that solves our problems…Now the Tinubu administration has come, it's not only listening to you, it's not only caring for you, it's solving your problems.

“So why would the people again who have said this is what they want, now change their mind to say oh let's go and try people that we do not know what will happen? Nobody does that.

“I can beat my chest; I can close my eyes and go home and sleep with my two eyes closed that Bola Ahmed Tinubu will emerge and other candidates such as Philip Aduda and John Gabaya will win this election. I have no fear at all”, Wike further stated.

The Crown of Two Hearts - A Play

Prince Kelechi and Amara, frontline Characters on the set of "The Crown of Two Hearts"

The Crown of Two Hearts

SYNOPSIS

The drums of war echoed faintly across the savannah, carried by the restless wind. Prince Kelechi tightened the hood over his head, hiding the royal mark that betrayed his lineage. Beside him walked Amara, the maiden whose quiet strength had already steadied his wavering resolve.

The kingdom they fled was crumbling under betrayal and famine, yet the elders whispered of a prophecy: only the union of royal blood and humble heart could restore balance. Now, with danger at every turn, their journey back was not just about survival — it was about destiny.

Characters

• Prince Kelechi: A runaway prince torn between duty and freedom. His guilt for abandoning the throne weighs heavily, but he fears becoming a puppet of corrupt advisors.
• Amara: A village maiden with wisdom beyond her years. She values community and resilience, and her grounded perspective challenges Kelechi’s royal upbringing.

Setting

• The Kingdom: Once prosperous, now fractured by famine, rebellion, and whispers of betrayal. The land itself mirrors the turmoil, rivers drying, crops failing, and villages divided.
• The Journey: Their path back could take them through dangerous forests, sacred mountains, or war-torn villages, each place revealing the kingdom’s decline and testing their resolve.

Conflict

• External threats: Rebels who see Kelechi as a traitor, rival clans who want to seize power, and natural hardships like drought or wild beasts.
• Internal struggle: Kelechi must accept that leadership is sacrifice, not privilege. Amara must decide if she can trust him enough to bind her fate to his.