FCT MINISTER ATTRIBUTES UNPRECEDENTED INFRASTRUCTURAL BOOM TO FCTA’s EXIT FROM TSA

FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike fielding questions from journalists during his monthly media parley in Abuja on Thursday

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

FCT MINISTER ATTRIBUTES UNPRECEDENTED INFRASTRUCTURAL BOOM TO FCTA’s EXIT FROM TSA

…SAYS FCT’S REVENUE BASE HAS JUMPED FROM N9 BILLION TO N40 BILLION

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has credited the administration's strategic exit from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) as the primary catalyst driving the ongoing infrastructural renaissance in the nation's capital.

Speaking during his media parley on Thursday, July 9, 2026, the Minister said this bold fiscal reform, swiftly approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has fundamentally transformed the FCTA’s financial capacity, turning Abuja into a massive construction hub that is delivering rapid, community-driven development across the city centre and FCT Area Councils.

Noting that the strict limitations of the TSA previously choked the territory's ability to fund large-scale projectsthe Minister said the policy shift has allowed the administration to successfully utilized its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as collateral to secure commercial funding for rapid project execution. 

"Mr. President sees governance as a business, and that is why he pulled us out of the TSA for the development of the FCT. When we had funds with the CBN, we had no access to borrow from commercial banks. That was a major impediment for us. Now, I can go to commercial banks to borrow money for infrastructure projects, using our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as collateral. Now the jobs are going on," the Minister stated.

Barr. Wike further disclosed that the newfound financial autonomy and the strict institutional blocks on frivolous spending and leakages has yielded immediate and staggering economic results with the administration’s revenue base multiplying exponentially from N9 billion in 2023 to approximate N40 billion in 2026.

"When we came on board, our IGR was a mere N9 billion a month. As I speak to you today, our IGR is about N40 billion. These are the benefits of exiting the TSA", the Minister noted, adding that the administration has also radically restructured the territory's budget and flipped its spending ratio from 65 percent recurrent expenditure to a robust 75 percent capital expenditure.

Noting that this massive injection of capital is directly responsible for the spectacular 31-day commissioning calendar currently underway, the Minister also stressed that the reliable cash flow has allowed the FCTA to clear backlogs owed to competent local contractors and foreign contractors, ensuring that both old and new projects are completed on schedule.

He also explained that the administration has strongly prioritized technical capacity and competence, rather than focusing solely on local content in the selection of both local and foreign contractors handling FCTA projects.

Addressing questions on whether the focus of the FCT administration on road networks, the Minister clarified that while road infrastructure remains foundational to establishing hospitals, schools, and markets, development is evenly spread across critical sectors.

He said the FCT Administration has funded critical multi-sector interventions, including the recent commissioning of the Karu Water Scheme by Vice President, Kashim Shetima, the upcoming Bwari Water Scheme, the renovation of over 120 schools, and the re-awarding of long-abandoned hospital projects in Gwagwalada and Gwarimpa.

With unprecedented investments being poured into the city's infrastructure, the Minister issued a stern warning that the FCTA will fiercely protect these new assets from abuse. He declared a zero-tolerance policy for indiscipline and announced the deployment of a task force to clear hoodlums and illegal roadside markets. "Government cannot build roads today, and the next day it’s a market, and you try to justify it that they are looking for how to survive. We will not allow that", he declared.

Additionally, the Minister disclosed that the FCTA has reclaimed parks and gardens that violated land use laws by converting green areas into commercial hotels and residential buildings, adding that a strict "develop-or-lose" policy has also been implemented in the mass housing sector to curb land speculation and the unauthorized sale of unallocated land.

 “We have taken back all our parks and gardens. If you want to have it, come and apply and we give you the conditions. Anybody who says he wants parks and garden must apply appropriately and you will have ministerial approval, not where the director of parks and garden will enter into agreement with you and government does not know”, the Minister explained.  

 Barr. Wike who also addressed the recent political allegations connecting the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to a fictitious government agency, described the claims as "rubbish" and "madness."

Barr Wike, stated that from his knowledge of the personality of Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, it was very unlikely that he was involved in it. He further revealed that the easiest way to embarrass any government was to target the Chief of Staff.

The Burden of Fame and the Search for Love

Summer Robert

This story titled “Woman with 'UK's biggest boobs' reveals how it has made dating a nightmare” was published earlier today on Linda Ikeji’s blog. We picked it up for an editorial. But first, here are the main points of the story:

Summer Robert’s condition: She has macromastia, a rare condition that causes her breasts to keep growing, leading to her having what’s described as the UK’s largest breasts (size 30R). 

Career vs. personal life: Her body has brought her fame and financial success, but it has made dating extremely difficult. 

Dating app experiences: Conversations often focus immediately on her chest, with men making objectifying or sexual comments instead of showing genuine interest in her personality or life.  

In-person encounters: Dates tend to be over-sexualized, with men treating meetings as a direct path to sex rather than romance. She rarely experiences traditional dating gestures like being “wined and dined.”

Examples of frustration: She recalls men making explicit remarks or suggesting filming adult content right after meeting, which she finds disappointing and exhausting.  

Pattern of fetishization: Many men who pursue her appear to already follow or fixate on women with large breasts, making her feel reduced to a fetish rather than valued as a person.

Her desire: Despite her public image and career, she says she wants a traditional, loving relationship, marriage, and family. 

Editorial: The Burden of Fame and the Search for Love 

Summer Robert, known for having what is described as the UK’s largest breasts due to macromastia, has built a career and public persona around her unusual condition. Yet behind the notoriety and financial success lies a deeply personal struggle: the inability to find genuine romance.  

PRESIDENT TINUBU COMMISSIONS CRUCIAL ROAD AND BRIDGE IN ABUJA’S INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT

L-R Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, Vice President Kashim Shettima, FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, Chairman, Senate Committee of Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, Senator Olaka Nwogu and APC National Vice President South South, Chief Victor Gaidom during the commissioning of Collector Road CO1 linking the Body of Benchers, Nile and Baze Universities in the Institution and Research District, Abuja on Wednesday

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PRESIDENT TINUBU COMMISSIONS CRUCIAL ROAD AND BRIDGE IN ABUJA’S INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT

…SAYS IT IS PROMISE KEPT

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has officially commissioned Collector Road C01 and its accompanying bridge in the Institution and Research District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, President Tinubu disclosed that the newly completed infrastructure, directly connecting prominent national and academic institutions, including the Body of Benchers, Nile University, and Baze University will rapidly resolve severe infrastructure deficits in the Institution and Research District of the FCT.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu stated that the project successfully restores ease of movement and enhances security for thousands of students, lecturers, and legal professionals who previously navigated severely deteriorated routes in the District.

He recalled that the intervention was triggered by an appeal made by the Body of Benchers during a recent Call to Bar ceremony, stressing that the Federal Government, recognizing the urgency, bypassed bureaucratic delays to approve emergency funding for the project.

The President emphasized that the road network complete with street lights, walkways and a river bridge, marks another major milestone in the administration's Renewed Hope Agenda and fulfils the promise by the current administration to ensure the completion of all initiated projects.

"We promised that we would not allow governance to become a series of abandoned dreams and half-hearted efforts. Today, as we stand on this newly constructed Collector Road C01, we are not just looking at the physical roads and buildings; we are looking at a promise kept", President Tinubu stated during the commissioning ceremony

Beyond providing critical transportation access, the President highlighted the economic ripples of the project, noting that data from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) confirmed that the construction generated hundreds of direct and indirect grassroots jobs for Nigerian youths.

"Infrastructure is the greatest enabler of economic prosperity. When you build roads, you open up districts. When you open up districts, you invite investment. And when investment comes, Nigeria grows," President Tinubu emphasized

He commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, affectionately dubbing him the "Mr. Project" of this generation. The President further praised Barr. Wike's relentless work ethic and the rapid-fire marathon of project completions currently transforming the nation's capital and also extended gratitude to the FCDA engineers, contractors, and labourers who worked day and night to deliver the infrastructure in record time.

While reiterating that the ongoing transformation of Abuja is a microcosm of the development his administration is rolling out across the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Tinubu charged FCT residents, including the management and students of Nile University, Baze University, and the Body of Benchers to protect and cherish the new infrastructure

Speaking earlier at the event, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, explained that the project directly aligns with President Tinubu’s directive to ensure that every district in the FCT receives government intervention under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Barr. Wike recalled that the President was recently in the same district to commission the Body of Benchers Annex—also constructed by the FCTA—and thanked him for his consistent physical presence and support during the ongoing project commissioning blitz across the capital.

Crucially, the Minister extended his deepest appreciation to President Tinubu for the strategic policy decision to remove the FCT Administration from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), stressing that this single administrative reform unlocked the vital financial resources currently being utilized to fund and execute massive infrastructure projects across the territory.

“ABUJA IS NO LONGER A CITY OF ABANDONED PROJECTS”

R-L: FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud; Senate President, Obong Godswill Akpabio; FCT Minister, Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike; Managing Director, Levant Construction Limited, Mr Elie Tannous at the Commissioning of Transit Way N2, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026

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“ABUJA IS NO LONGER A CITY OF ABANDONED PROJECTS” 

— PRESIDENT TINUBU SAYS

…AS NEW N2 TRANSIT WAY OPENS CBD-WUSE CORRIDOR

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, today said the Federal Capital Territory has turned a new corner in infrastructure delivery with the opening of the Transit Way N2 Corridor, now linking the Central Business District directly to the Wuse District through two standard-engineered bridges.

Speaking during the event marking the 50th Anniversary of the FCT and the third year of the Renewed Hope Administration, the President described the new road as “an economic artery”, that will cut travel time, ease congestion, and unlock commercial activity for millions of commuters and businesses.

President Tinubu recalled the charge given to the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, CON, upon his appointment.

“When I gave the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, CON, Mr. Project, the mandate to oversee the Federal Capital Territory, my directive was single, clear, and uncompromising: deliver tangible results to the people, eliminate delays, and return Abuja to its master plan,” the President stated.

He added: “I also stressed that the 'Renewed Hope Agenda' must not just be a slogan written on billboards, but a living reality that our people can see, touch, and drive upon. He has not failed me. He has continued to surpass my expectations.”

The President noted that movement between Wuse and the Central Area was once defined by bottlenecks and lost productivity.  

“For years, traveling between Wuse and the Central Area meant navigating bottlenecks, losing productive man-hours, and enduring frustrating traffic gridlock. Today that has changed,” he said

President Tinubu declared that the era of abandoned projects in Abuja is over, citing a new contract regime of funding, monitoring, and delivery.

“Abuja is no longer a city of abandoned projects. The era of contractors taking mobilization money and disappearing into thin air is permanently over in the FCT. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, if we sign a contract, we fund it, we monitor it, and we commission it”, he declared.

He commended the FCT Administration for vision and discipline in execution, and thanked contractors for “working around the clock to meet this deadline and building to the highest possible standards.”

Nigeria: FG Removes FCTA from TSA

Symbolic Photo

Nigeria: FG Removes FCTA from TSA

The Federal Government’s decision to exempt the FCTA from the Treasury Single Account marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s fiscal management framework.

The TSA, introduced to centralize government revenues and curb leakages, has long been hailed as a cornerstone of financial discipline.

However, President Tinubu insists that Abuja’s unique administrative and developmental needs require flexibility beyond the rigid confines of the TSA.  

President Tinubu explained that the exemption was necessary to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and allow the FCTA to access funds quickly for critical projects.

He emphasized that Abuja, as the nation’s capital, must operate with “liquidity, speed, and corporate flexibility” to deliver world-class infrastructure.   

Since the policy shift, Abuja has witnessed accelerated infrastructure delivery, including road construction, housing projects, and institutional reforms. Minister Nyesom Wike has been credited with translating the financial autonomy into tangible results, such as resolving the Nigerian Law School’s long-standing land title issue and commissioning new facilities for the legal sector. 

Nigeria’s FCTA Exits Treasury Single Account: Tinubu’s Bold Fiscal Shift

Symbolic Photo

Nigeria’s FCTA Exits Treasury Single Account: Tinubu’s Bold Fiscal Shift

President Bola Tinubu has officially removed the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) from Nigeria’s Treasury Single Account (TSA), arguing that the move provides financial flexibility and has already accelerated infrastructure development in Abuja. He credited FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for translating this policy into visible projects and institutional reforms. 

Background on the TSA

The Treasury Single Account (TSA) was introduced in Nigeria to centralize government revenues, reduce leakages, and enforce fiscal discipline. By pooling funds into a single account, ministries and agencies had limited direct access, which often slowed down project execution due to bureaucratic bottlenecks. The FCTA’s exemption marks a significant departure from this framework.

Tinubu’s Rationale

President Tinubu explained that removing the FCTA from the TSA was necessary to give Abuja’s administration liquidity, speed, and operational flexibility. He emphasized that the FCTA must be able to interface directly with financial institutions to deliver critical projects without bureaucratic delays. According to him, skeptics initially questioned the wisdom of this “financial liberation,” but the results are now evident in the rapid transformation of the capital city. 

Impact on Abuja’s Development

The exemption has allowed the FCTA to:

- Accelerate infrastructure delivery by eliminating bureaucratic delays in accessing funds.

- Expand urban renewal projects, including road construction and housing developments.

- Strengthen governance and justice institutions, such as resolving the Nigerian Law School’s long-standing land title issue by issuing its Certificate of Occupancy.

- Commission new facilities, including the Body of Benchers Office Annex and staff quarters at the Nigerian Law School in Bwari. 

Storms: Humanity’s Relentless Adversary

Symbolic Photo showing the devastation caused by storms

Storms: Humanity’s Relentless Adversary

Storms are among nature’s most formidable forces, a reminder that despite humanity’s technological progress, we remain vulnerable to the raw power of the earth’s atmosphere. 

They arrive with little regard for borders or human ambition, tearing through landscapes and societies with devastating consequences.

The destructive impact of storms is felt on multiple levels. Entire nations have seen their economies crippled by hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones. Infrastructure painstakingly built over decades can be reduced to rubble in hours. Roads, bridges, and power grids collapse under the weight of torrential rains and violent winds, leaving communities isolated and governments scrambling to respond.

For developing nations, the financial burden of rebuilding often deepens cycles of poverty and inequality, while wealthier nations face the sobering reality that no amount of preparation can fully shield them from nature’s wrath.

Beyond the economic toll lies the human tragedy. Families are displaced, homes are lost, and lives are shattered. Storms do not discriminate; they uproot the vulnerable and the powerful alike. Yet, it is often the poorest who suffer most, lacking the resources to evacuate or rebuild. 

The psychological scars of surviving such disasters linger long after the winds have calmed, manifesting in trauma, grief, and a profound sense of insecurity.

Storms also reshape the environment itself. Coastlines erode, forests are flattened, and agricultural lands are inundated, threatening food security and long-term sustainability.

In some cases, storms alter geography so drastically that maps must be redrawn. These changes remind us that humanity’s relationship with nature is not one of dominance but of coexistence, fragile and precarious.

A Legacy of Vision and Continuity at UBA

A Legacy of Vision and Continuity at UBA

The announcement that Tony Elumelu will step down as Group Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) on August 21, 2026, marks the end of an era defined by bold vision, transformative leadership, and a relentless belief in Africa’s potential.

For twelve years, Elumelu has been the architect of UBA’s evolution from a Nigerian institution into what is now proudly called “Africa’s Global Bank,” a financial powerhouse serving over 50 million customers across 20 African countries and four continents.

Under his stewardship, UBA expanded its footprint, connected African businesses to global opportunities, and proved that an African institution could compete confidently on the world stage. 

The bank itself credited him with shaping UBA into one of Africa’s most respected financial institutions, emphasizing innovation, resilience, and purpose as the pillars of its growth.

Elumelu’s own reflections on the transition were filled with gratitude and optimism, underscoring his belief that leadership is not about clinging to a position but knowing when to usher in a new chapter.

His successor, Emmanuel N. Nnorom, is no stranger to the world of corporate leadership. Currently the Group CEO of Heirs Holdings and Chairman of Transcorp Hotels Plc, Nnorom brings a wealth of experience and strategic insight to the role.

Elumelu himself expressed confidence in Nnorom’s ability to provide continuity and direction, urging shareholders, customers, and partners to extend to him the same trust and support that defined his own tenure.

This transition is not merely a change of guard; it is a reaffirmation of UBA’s enduring vision. The institution has pledged to continue building Africa’s leading financial powerhouse, enabling trade and investment, empowering communities, and creating sustainable value across the continent.

Central China’s Deadly Storms - A Stark Reminder of Climate Vulnerability

An aerial view shows flooding in Pingshan village at Xiaoyi town in Hengzhou, China’s southern Guangxi region on July 6, 2026. (Photo by CNS / AFP) / CHINA OUT

Central China’s Deadly Storms - A Stark Reminder of Climate Vulnerability

The recent storms that tore through central China have left a trail of devastation, underscoring the fragility of communities in the face of increasingly volatile weather.

State media reports confirm that eight lives were lost and 275 people injured after severe convective weather struck Hubei province, with cities such as Huangshi and Huanggang bearing the brunt of the disaster.

Tornadoes were sighted in some areas, and at least one person remains missing. Rescue operations are ongoing, with authorities evacuating over 400 residents to safety.

The tragedy in Hubei coincided with another calamity in the south. Heavy rains and flooding linked to Typhoon Maysak claimed two more lives in Guangxi, forcing the evacuation of 48,000 people.

In Nanning, the provincial capital, officials raised flood control measures to their highest level after torrential rains breached dams, bursting reservoir walls and sending torrents of muddy water into communities. Images of submerged homes, stranded cars, and rescue workers navigating floodwaters in inflatable boats paint a grim picture of the scale of destruction.

Beyond the immediate human toll, these events highlight the broader challenge of climate change. Scientists have long warned that extreme weather events will grow in intensity and frequency as global temperatures rise due to fossil fuel emissions.

Elumelu To Step Down As UBA Chairman, Nnorom Named Successor

Tony Elumelu

Elumelu To Step Down As UBA Chairman, Nnorom Named Successor

United Bank for Africa (UBA) has announced a significant leadership transition. Tony Elumelu, who has served as Group Chairman for twelve years, will step down on August 21, 2026.

Emmanuel N. Nnorom has been named as his successor, marking the beginning of a new chapter for one of Africa’s most prominent financial institutions.

UBA’s statement paid tribute to Elumelu’s transformative leadership, crediting him with expanding the bank’s reach from a Nigerian institution into what it now proudly calls “Africa’s Global Bank.”

Under his stewardship, UBA grew to serve over 50 million customers across 20 African countries and four continents, connecting businesses and economies through innovation, resilience, and purpose.

The bank emphasized that Elumelu’s vision proved that an African institution could compete confidently on the global stage.

In his farewell remarks, Elumelu described the transition as one filled with gratitude, pride, and optimism. He highlighted his objective of building an institution that would outlive individuals, one capable of empowering entrepreneurs, supporting governments, rewarding shareholders, and transforming lives.

PRESIDENT TINUBU COMMISSIONS BODY OF BENCHERS OFFICE ANNEX IN ABUJA

L-R Chairman, Body of Benchers, HRM Albert Akpomudje, SAN, FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun, Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud during the commissioning of the newly completed Body of Benchers office annex in Abuja on Monday

FCTA PRESS RELEASE 

RESIDENT TINUBU COMMISSIONS BODY OF BENCHERS OFFICE ANNEX IN ABUJA

…REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has officially commissioned the newly completed Office Annex for the Body of Benchers located in the Institutional and Research District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony in Abuja on Monday, July 6, 2026, President Tinubu disclosed that the state-of-the-art edifice, represents a critical milestone in the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring judicial independence, and enhancing the operational capacity of the apex regulatory body of the Nigerian legal profession.

President Tinubu who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief George Akume, emphasized that providing top-tier infrastructure for the legal community is a constitutional duty of the Executive to foster efficiency, rather than an interference in judicial independence.

"Today’s ceremony is not merely a celebration of a beautiful edifice crafted with architectural excellence. It is a resounding affirmation of our administration’s steadfast commitment to the rule of law, the independence of our institutions, and the dignity of the Nigerian legal profession," President Tinubu stated.

The President highly commended the Honorable Minister of the FCT, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, for his aggressive infrastructural drive, noting that the timely completion of the project reflects the FCT's ongoing urban renaissance.

He also highlighted ongoing holistic interventions in the legal ecosystem, including the construction of two 300-bed hostels at the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, the completed Nile University access road, and a dedicated new Fire Service Station for the institutional district, stressing that the FCT was witnessing a remarkable renaissance due to the scale of ongoing infrastructure development.

“When I appointed the Minister, I gave him a clear mandate: to transform Abuja into a modern, functional, and world-class capital city. Over the last three years, the scale of infrastructural development, urban renewal, and project delivery in the FCT has been unmatched. From the Court of Appeal Complex and the newly developed Judges' Quarters to massive road networks like the Outer Southern Expressway, this city is witnessing a remarkable renaissance”, President Tinubu stated.