IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Governor Ademola Adeleke has announced a ₦159 billion infrastructure development plan for Osun State in 2025, focusing on roads, education, and healthcare.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Adeleke reaffirmed his commitment to delivering democratic dividends despite political challenges. He also emphasized that no loans would be taken to fund the projects, stating that financing will come from federal allocations, internally generated revenue (IGR), and recovered funds from the Federal Government.

Since launching a multi-billion-naira infrastructure plan in December 2023, the administration has completed or rehabilitated over 150 km of roads, 200 primary healthcare centers, and 99 schools.

Key Projects for 2025:

Roads: ₦101.8 billion allocatedOsogbo-Iwo-Oyo State boundary road – ₦5.94 billion

Osogbo-Ikirun-Kwara State boundary road – ₦13.7 billion

Dualisation of Odo Ori Junction-Post Office Junction-Adeeke Junction – ₦10.42 billion

Dualisation of Ila township road – ₦12.65 billion

Ijebu-Jesa-Ere-Ilahun-Ibokun road reconstruction – ₦8.05 billion

Ada-Ibokun-Ilase-Idominasi road – ₦10.89 billion

Upgrading and beautification of major roads and roundabouts – ₦5 billion

Education: ₦1.98 billion allocated for school renovations and constructionEde High School hall and pavilion renovation – ₦50.2 million

Agbonran School of Science, Ede South renovation – ₦200 million

Oranmiyan Memorial Grammar School, Ile-Ife – ₦149.5 million

Ogedengbe School of Science, Ilesa – ₦137 million

Healthcare: ₦2.76 billion allocated for renovating 124 primary healthcare centers

Adeleke assured that all projects would be completed within the fiscal year and urged citizens to support the government’s efforts in building a stronger and more prosperous Osun State. 

Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, has warned that the country faces significant external debt servicing costs over the next four years.

Speaking in his first budget presentation to parliament on Tuesday, Forson revealed that Ghana will need to pay $2.5 billion in 2027 and $2.4 billion in 2028, amounting to a total of $8.7 billion (10.9% of GDP) within the period. He also noted that no financial buffers had been put in place to ease the burden.

Ghana is recovering from its worst economic crisis in decades, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, rising global interest rates, and years of excessive borrowing.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama, who assumed office in January, has pledged to revive the economy and create jobs while addressing challenges such as high living costs, an ongoing IMF bailout, and a sovereign debt default in the country’s cocoa and gold sectors. 

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has assured full implementation of the recent Supreme Court judgment concerning the state's political crisis, emphasizing that his focus is on the state's interests rather than personal gains.

Speaking during the inauguration of new Judges’ Quarters in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Fubara acknowledged the financial losses incurred in the prolonged crisis and stressed the need to redirect resources toward the state's development.

The governor highlighted his administration’s dedication to the welfare of judicial officers, completing a housing project initiated by the previous administration. He urged proper maintenance of the facility to ensure longevity.

Performing the inauguration, Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, praised Fubara for completing the project, calling it a landmark achievement in judicial welfare.

Solicitor-General Mrs. Ibiwari Clapton-Ogolo also emphasized the significance of the Rivers State Housing Scheme for Judicial Officers, which guarantees decent accommodation for judges who are indigenes by birth or marriage.

Fubara reiterated that his legacy will be defined by his contributions to the state, stating that "no price is too big to pay for peace in Rivers State." 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has commenced discussions with Dangote Petroleum Refinery to renew the naira-for-crude agreement as the current deal is set to expire on March 31, 2025.

In response to reports claiming that the contract had been suspended until 2030, NNPCL clarified in a statement on Monday that the agreement was originally structured for six months and remains subject to crude oil availability.

Recent findings indicate that between October and December 2024, the $20 billion Lekki-based refinery received crude oil worth approximately N486.31 billion under the deal. The initiative, which began in October 2024, was designed to enhance local supply, reduce fuel import costs, and lower pump prices.

NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, reaffirmed that since the agreement’s inception, Dangote Refinery has received 48 million barrels for refining and a total of 84 million barrels since operations began in 2023.

Similarly, Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee on the Naira-for-Crude Deal, dismissed claims of contract termination, stating that the policy remains intact and continues to positively impact the economy. He emphasized that the framework ensures stable supply and optimal utilization of local refining capacity.

Additionally, the Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Association of Nigeria urged the government to honor its commitment to modular refineries, ensuring they receive the 27,000 barrels per day allocated to them.

Financial reports from NNPCL’s Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings revealed that crude supplied to Dangote Refinery between October and December 2024 was valued at $373.76 million, with payments made in naira based on an Afrexim Bank-advised exchange rate. However, as of February 2025, an outstanding balance of $126.99 million (N199.96 billion) remained unpaid.

The breakdown of crude allocations showed fluctuations in supply, with the highest volume of 598,125 barrels delivered on October 14, 2024, and the lowest at 5,000 barrels on October 30, 2024. Transactions continued in November and December, with total crude shipments reaching 2.1 million barrels in October and decreasing in subsequent months.

The NNPCL reaffirmed its commitment to supporting domestic refining and ensuring efficient execution of the naira-for-crude policy to enhance fuel supply stability and reduce foreign exchange dependence. 

Parents of students at Kings College, Lagos are growing anxious following a diphtheria outbreak that has claimed the life of a 12-year-old student. Many parents have opted to keep their children at home, while others are calling for an urgent Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting to assess the situation.

The Lagos State government has begun a mass vaccination campaign across the school’s two campuses on Victoria Island and Lagos Island to curb the spread.

A concerned parent, Nkechi, stated that previous assurances from the PTA leadership may not be enough, as parents seek a firsthand evaluation of the school's health conditions. She recalled that a student also died last December, with suspicions that the same disease was responsible.

She attributed the crisis to overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in classrooms and hostels, revealing that 34 students exhibited symptoms, with 14 in serious condition.

As a former PTA executive, Nkechi advocated for stricter health measures and improved school facilities to prevent overcrowding and future outbreaks. 

The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested two suspects following a violent clash between farmers and herders in Farin Dutse, Nasarawa LGA. The violence erupted on March 9, 2025, after a confrontation led to the killing of a resident, Friday Danladi Jike, allegedly by Sani Allah Gaba.

In response, Commissioner of Police, CP Shettima Jauro Mohammed, deployed security forces, who rescued a victim from an angry mob. However, the mob vandalized a police vehicle and burned a Ruga settlement, resulting in the death of Azumi Allah Gaba and her unborn child.

On March 10, 2025, suspected herders launched a retaliatory attack on Farin Dutse, burning houses and causing more casualties. The police intervened, rescuing three injured victims and recovering six bodies.

To prevent further violence, additional security personnel have been deployed. The police assured residents of their safety and ongoing efforts to apprehend all perpetrators.