BIG STORY

FG Blames Governors For High Poverty Rate, Says ‘States Focus On Unnecessary Infrastructure’

Published

3 years ago

December 1, 2022

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The federal government has blamed state governors for the high rate of poverty in the country.

Clem Agba, minister of state for budget and national planning, accused state governors of giving more thought to flyovers and airports than to improving conditions in rural areas.

He said this on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing state house correspondents on the outcome of the meeting of the federal executive council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Agba said 72 percent of Nigeria’s poor citizens are found in the rural areas which have been abandoned by the governors.

He said governors prefer to function in the state capitals rather than build roads that will aid farmers in the rural communities to easily take their farm produce to the city.

According to the minister, the federal government’s social investment programmes have not been as successful as expected because of the lack of cooperation from the state governors.

“The governors are basically only functioning in their state capitals. And democracy that we preach about is delivering the greatest goods to the greatest number of people,” Agba said.

“And from our demographic, it shows that the greatest number of our people live in rural areas, but the governors are not working in the rural areas.

“Right now, 70 percent of our people live in rural areas. They produce 90 percent of what we eat and unfortunately 60 percent of what they produce does not get to the market due to post-harvest losses.

“When we talk about food prices, like I mentioned right now as driving inflation, prices of food at the farm gates are low. But when you now take it to the urban areas, you find out that the prices are high due to supply chain disruptions, lack of infrastructure to take them there.

“I think from the federal government side, we are doing our best. But we need to push that rather than governors continuing to compete to take loans to build airports that are not necessary where they have other airports so close to them.

“Or governors now competing to build flyovers all over the place and we applaud them, they should concentrate on building rural roads so that the farmers can at least get their products to the market.

“And you find that if they do that and with the new policy in the national development plan that talks about taking power to the rural areas, especially of out-grid power that can easily be put, you begin to attract industries to those areas for value-addition.”

Citing findings from the recently released multidimensional poverty report, Agba said Sokoto state has the highest number of poor people in Nigeria, followed by Bayelsa.

“The result clearly shows that 72 percent of poverty is in the rural areas. It also showed clearly, that Sokoto state is leading in poverty with 91 percent,” he said.

“But the surprising thing is Bayelsa being the second in terms of poverty rating in the country. So, you see the issue is not about availability of money. But it has to do with the application of money.”

Agba further said states were in charge of land for agriculture but failed to invest in them for the desired effect on their rural citizens.

He advised state governors not to concentrate on building infrastructure that does not impact the common man, but rather focus on initiatives that can pull the majority of the people out of poverty.

“Like I always say, if you look at Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, he says you have to take care of the basic needs of individuals first before you begin to talk about self-actualisation,” Agba added.

“So we need to take care of the issues of food, nutrition, housing and clothing for our people.

“Before we begin to think of how to go to the moon and begin to build flyovers and airports in the state capital, that is the missing link which we need to push so that we’ll be able to catalyse growth.”

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BIG STORY

Obasa Bolsters APC’s Membership E-Registration With Strategic Tech Support

Published

16 hours ago

January 20, 2026

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In a decisive show of leadership and commitment to the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s ongoing membership e-registration exercise, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Obasa has donated eighty (80) 5G-enabled tablets and forty (40) LaserJet printers to aid the registration process across the state.

The items were presented earlier today, Tuesday, January 20, on the Speaker’s behalf by Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe, a former member of the House of Representatives; Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi, a two-term state lawmaker and former secretary of the APC in Lagos; Hon. Johnson Babatunde, former executive chairman of Orile Agege Local Council Development Area; and Hon. Abdoulbaq Ladi Balogun, Managing Director, Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY).

Additionally, Speaker Obasa also deployed eighty (80) well-trained personnel, comprising computer-savvy youths, to complement the existing party staff and ensure extensive coverage across all local government areas.

Speaker Obasa reckons that equipping the party with cutting-edge technology and skilled manpower will eliminate bottlenecks, enhance efficiency, and guarantee that every eligible member of the APC in Lagos State is captured. More importantly, the intervention, he says, will position the Lagos APC to achieve a comprehensive and transparent registration outcome.

Party stakeholders have lauded Speaker Obasa’s foresight and dedication, noting that his contributions reflect loyalty to the APC, proactive leadership that enhances political mobilization with technology, and a broader vision of youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and grassroots political participation.

“Speaker Obasa’s strategic tech support underscores his reputation as a leader who prioritises innovation, inclusivity, and the growth of the party at the grassroots level,” said Hon. Babatunde.

The membership e-registration exercise, scheduled to conclude by the end of January, is expected to significantly expand the APC’s database and strengthen its organisational capacity ahead of future political engagements.

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BIG STORY

Court Adjourns Trial Of Anthony Joshua’s Driver To February 25

Published

18 hours ago

January 20, 2026

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A Magistrate Court in Sagamu area of Ogun State has adjourned the trial of Adeniyi Kayode to February 25, 2026.

Kayode is a 46-year-old driver involved in the fatal accident that killed heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua’s personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami.

The driver was charged to Sagamu Magistrates Court on January 2, with Magistrate Olufunilayo Somefun presiding over the case.

He was on trial for a four-count charge, which includes dangerous driving causing death, contrary to Section 5(1) of the Federal Highway Act, Cap F: 135, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as applicable in Ogun State), reckless and negligent driving, contrary to Section 6(1) of the same Act.

The other two charges included driving without due care and attention, causing bodily harm and damage to property, contrary to Section 7(1) of the Act, and driving without a valid national driver’s licence, contrary to Section 10 (1) of the Federal Highway Act.

When the case came for hearing, the prosecution counsel, Nijiwe Richard, called for the adjournment of the case to allow the prosecution counsel to duplicate the case tile to the office of the Attorney General of the state through the office of the Department of Public Prosecution for advice and in the interest of justice

The request was initially rejected by the counsel to the defendant, Abiodun Olalekan, who expressed the readiness to forge ahead with the case.

Giving her ruling on the request for adjournment, the court granted the application and adjourned the case to the 25th of February for further hearing.

The defendant was granted bail for ₦5,000,000 with two sureties.

Joshua lost his two friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, along the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 29, 2025.

The Lexus SUV collided with a stationary truck, and Joshua and the driver sustained minor injuries.

Anthony Joshua was later discharged from the hospital after being deemed clinically fit to continue his recovery at home.

The former world heavyweight champion, along with his mother, visited the funeral home in Lagos to pay their final respects to Ayodele and Ghami, as their bodies were being prepared for repatriation.

He later travelled to the United Kingdom for their funeral.

The remains of Ghami and Ayodele were flown back to the United Kingdom, where a funeral prayer service was held on January 4, 2026, at the London Central Mosque.

Ghami, Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele, his personal trainer and close confidant, were widely regarded as central figures in the boxer’s camp. Their deaths sent shockwaves across the international boxing community.

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BIG STORY

Ex-Minister Diezani Appears In London Court For ‘£100,000 Bribery’ Trial

Published

18 hours ago

January 20, 2026

PorscheClassy News

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has appeared before the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, for the preliminary hearing of her trial premised on bribery charges.

Alison-Madueke, who served from 2010 to 2015, was the first woman to hold the office of oil minister in Nigeria and the first female president of the global oil cartel, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The case was listed on the cause list for Court 8 before Justice Thornton on Monday.

Alison-Madueke was in court for the preliminary hearing ahead of her full trial, scheduled to commence on January 26, 2026.

Preliminary proceedings, including technical matters and jury selection, began this week, with Alison-Madueke in attendance.

The 65-year-old has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015. She has denied six charges against her.

She was formally charged in 2023 by the UK’s National Crime Agency with offences of accepting bribes between 2011 to 2015.

“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” the NCA said at the time.

According to the indictment, Alison-Madueke benefitted from at least £100,000 ($134,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, and the use of multiple London properties.

The charges also detailed financial rewards including furniture, renovation work, and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from top designer shops such as Louis Vuitton.

The trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 26, and is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks.

Two others are also being prosecuted on bribery charges linked to the case: Doye Agama, who appeared in court via video link on Monday, and Olatimbo Ayinde, who was present in the dock.

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