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Delta govt approves urban renewal plans for Asaba, Warri
Delta State Government, yesterday, approved major infrastructure development projects targeted at urban renewal of the Asaba capital territory and Warri, the commercial nerve centre of the state.
The approvals were part of the decisions reached at the maiden 2025 State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Briefing journalists at the end the meeting, the Director General of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA), Chief Patrick Ukah, expressed excitement at the recent approvals for road infrastructure projects in the territory.
He described the development as a significant step towards enhancing urban renewal, improving connectivity and boosting economic growth.
Chief Ukah emphasized the government’s commitment to transforming the capital territory through strategic infrastructure upgrades, assuring residents that the approved projects would bring lasting benefits to the capital territory.
According to Ukah, “I must tell you that the Capital Territory in this administration has received a lot of attention, especially in the area of road infrastructure.
“I am happy to report that the Umejei Road in Ibusa, is being given a complete facelift, and the Okpanam Township Road, from the City Gate to the church and extending into Amaichai down to the Post Office, has also been approved for reconstruction.
“We are also making significant progress across BONSAC. A 2.6-kilometer road from the Road Safety office is being constructed into BONSAC, along with a network of roads that will connect to Achalla Ibusa Road.”
He explained that some projects were delayed due to upward reviews but disclosed that approximately eight of them had now been approved, with contractors already mobilized to the respective sites.
“Before now, some of our projects were stalled due to upward reviews. However, in this administration, about eight of them have now been approved, and the contractors are returning to the sites.
“Four of these are major projects that many of us were concerned about due to delays. For instance, the one crossing Ogbeogonogo Market has been approved, and Odilison has also received approval. Once the official release is issued, you will see the full details of these roads.
“Most importantly, in line with the governor’s MORE agenda, the transformation of the capital city has officially begun. The entire capital territory is set to receive a facelift, and the development, under the MORE agenda, is being accelerated,” he added.
On his part, the Director-General, Warri, Uvwie, and Environs, Prince Godwin Ejinyere said Governor Oborevwori had directed that all major roads in Warri and environs should be given a face-lift.
“I want to sincerely inform Deltans that Warri truly will be great again as promised by the governor who has given the go ahead for us to reconstruct bad roads, to maintain bad roads and reconstruct roads linking major places in Warri.
“All the roads we are doing are not for political patronage. The Governor has directed that we identify all bad roads in Warri and make sure Warri wears a new look.
“Outside that today, Exco graciously approved the additional works for the stormwater project taking place in Warri.
“Knowing the nature of Warri that it’s always flooded whenever it rains and anytime from now the rains will be here again, the Warri storm water project was awarded sometime in April 2024 and has now been reviewed upward to accommodate additional works and also considering the rising cost of building and construction materials.
“We had to look into a lot of things for the job not to stop and, as I said today, the governor has graciously approved the onward construction of the project and equally increased the scope of work.
“Rome was not built in a day but I want to tell us that the job has been increased from what it used to be, to cover many other areas in Warri and environs.
“It’s a wonderful one; I want to say, on behalf of all our Warri people, that we owe nothing but prayers for our governor.”
LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY SUSPENDS PLENARY INDEFINITELY
The Lagos State House of Assembly has suspended plenary indefinitely following the invasion of the assembly by operatives of the State Security Services on Monday.
Tensions escalated in the assembly on Monday as security personnel, reportedly from the SSS, entered the assembly premises and locked the Deputy Speaker’s office before the start of the plenary session.
This action led to a standoff between lawmakers and security officers, with the lawmakers eventually regaining access to the assembly.
During the plenary session, the lawmakers addressed the security breach and passed a vote of confidence in the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
They also resolved to investigate the incident and report their findings to President Bola Tinubu and the SSS Director General Oluwatosin Ajayi.
PSC approves appointment of Jimoh Moshood as Commissioner of Police, Lagos State command
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment of Olohundare Moshood Jimoh as the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, effective Monday, February 17, 2025.
In a statement, the PSC spokesperson, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, said, “CP Jimoh, before his appointment, was the Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority, Eastern Ports.”
CP Jimoh, a native of Kwara State, previously served as the Force Public Relations Officer and held several key positions, including Deputy Commissioner, Airport Police, Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Administration, and Deputy Commissioner, General Investigation.
He has undergone extensive professional training both locally and internationally, including: Combat Operations Course – Mobile Training College, Maiduguri, African Union Mission – Darfur, Sudan, Weapons of Mass Destruction Countermeasure Training – United States, Social Construction and Management Reform Training – China, Executive Leadership Academy – Pudong, China, Maritime Rescue and Salvage Training – China Maritime Academy, Ningbo, China, Anti-Hijacking Techniques and Tactics Training – Yunnan Police College, Kunming, China, Police Training Institute – Seoul, South Korea.
CP Jimoh is also a recipient of the Presidential Award for Public Relations Personality of the Year, presented by the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations in recognition of his outstanding contributions to public relations in Nigeria.
His confirmation followed his appearance before the PSC on Monday, where key officials, including the Commission’s Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd), Justice Adamu Paul Galmuje (rtd), and DIG Taiwo Lakanu (rtd), were present.
The appointment reflects the Commission’s commitment to strengthening leadership and ensuring effective policing in Lagos State.
Security operatives take over Lagos Assembly
The leadership tussle in the Lagos State House of Assembly took a new twist on Monday with heavy security presence at the premises during a plenary session.
Security vans and personnel were spotted in and outside the premises of the Lagos Assembly complex in the Alausa Area of the commercial city.
An official of the Lagos Assembly said that the speaker Meranda Mojisola and 32 members of the lawmaking body are present for Monday’s plenary.
While issues to be discussed at the plenary are unclear as of the time of this report, some members of the Lagos Assembly were spotted discussing in clusters inside the premises.
Although a source said that the leadership of the House is intact, reports claim that there might be a change in the speakership of the Lagos Assembly.
Last month, members of the Assembly removed the House’s long-term speaker Mudashiru Obasa over allegations of fraud and other sundry charges.
They thereafter elected Meranda Mojisola as Obasa’s replacement in a historic move that saw the member representing Apapa Constituency I become the first speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“The Constitution makes it clear that the House has the powers to regulate its proceedings. So, the members of the House felt that they’ve had enough of the Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa and today, we have unanimously agreed that Rt Hon Mojisola Meranda Lasbat becomes the new Speaker of the House,” a member of the Assembly representing Epe Constituency 1 Abiodun Tobun said in defence of Obasa’s impeachment.
Tobun argued that the lawmakers “owe Lagos State a duty of ensuring that the sanctity of the House and the integrity of this House are restored”.
Obasa has denied claims of corruption levelled against him.
Obasa insisted he was still the Lagos Assembly speaker.
The former speaker who represents the Agege constituency dismissed fraud allegations against him which he labelled as “fictitious and unsubstantiated”.
“I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done,” the lawmaker said in a press conference organised at his Ikeja home in Lagos.
“If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it. “I’m a Muslim and I believe in fate. But let’s do it the way it should be done.”
The Lagos Assembly crisis has dragged on for weeks, leaving many wondering about the next step for the House.
Many claimed his governorship ambition fuelled his removal, Obasa said there was nothing wrong with nursing that goal.
Weeks after his removal, Obasa dragged the Assembly and Meranda before the Lagos State High Court challenging his sack as the speaker of the House.
He asked the court to declare that his removal by his colleagues was unlawful owing since the Assembly was on break.
