News
Budget Padding: How senators share Zonal Intervention Project funds – Abaribe

The Lawmaker representing the Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has clarified the discrepancies in the sharing of the Zonal Intervention Project fund.
Recall that the Senator representing the Cross River North, Agom Jarigbe on Tuesday alleged that ranking senators got N500 million while he got nothing.
Jarigbe made the assertion at the floor of the Senate while commenting on allegation of budget padding raised by the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, Senator Abdul Ningi.
Ranking senators refers to lawmakers who have spent at least four years in the Red Chamber.
However, speaking on Arise TV on Wednesday, Abaribe denied receiving N500 million as alleged by his colleague.
He, however, said he got N266 million from the money allocated to members of the National Assembly in the six geo-political zones.
Abaribe explained that lawmakers from some zones like the Northwest, which has seven states, would expectedly get less than what he got, as his Southeast zone has only five states.
He said, “I have been saying that all fingers are not equal and by privilege of office, certain people will get but not every Senator gets an equal amount.
“These are six zones in the country and every zone gets its own N10 billion intervention. Now, if you are from the Northwest zone, because you have seven states, the senator will get less than me who comes from the five states zone.
“My state, Abia, gets N2 billion and if we break it down for both the Senate and the representatives, the Senate is getting 40% and the House gets 60%.
“I got about N266 million as zonal intervention. The person in the Northwest who has seven states, will necessarily get less, about a hundred million and something.
“So it’s not correct when we say every constituency must get an equal amount.”
News
UPDATE: Four-storey building collapses in Lagos (Photos)

A four-storey building has collapsed in Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos, with occupants trapped, and some feared dead.
Panic gripped residents when the uncompleted building suddenly collapsed on Saturday.
The building houses the popular Equal Right Restaurant.
The incident happened at about 11a.m., today.
As of press time, men of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, as well as the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, who had been contacted have arrived at the scene.
See photos below:




News
BREAKING: Many feared trapped, as Building collapses in Ojodu Lagos

An unspecific number of people are believed to be trapped under an uncompleted storey building which collapsed in Lagos.
The building housing Equal Rights restaurant located at Oremeta Street, Ojodu Lagos, went down on Saturday morning.
It is believed, however, that some people are still trapped underneath the rubble.
Details later….
Crime
Police rescue 10 kidnapped University of Benin students

Edo State Police Command says it has rescued 10 University of Benin, UNIBEN, students abducted by suspected kidnappers at Ofosu area along the Benin-Ore expressway.
It was gathered that the students were on their way to Babcock University for Annual GYC Africa Conference when they were kidnapped on April 16 at the community bordering Edo and Ondo States.
The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Moses Yamu disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen.
Yamu said the rescued students are eight males and two females.
He said during the rescue operation, one of the suspected kidnappers was killed, while other escaped with bullet wounds.
He also disclosed that one of the Police officers, an Inspector sustained gunshot injury and is currently responding to treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
The statement read: “The Command wishes to update the general public of the unfortunate kidnap of some students who were on their way to Babcock University for Annual GYC Africa Conference on 16/04/2025 at a location bordering Edo and Ondo States.
“On receipt of this information, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, immediately deployed operatives of the Ohosu Division, IRT, tactical teams alongside vigilantes and hunters into the bushes for possible rescue of the victims and arrest of suspects.
“During the operation, operatives engaged in a gun duel with these kidnappers. In the process, one of the kidnappers was neutralised, while others escaped with bullet wounds.
“The operatives were cautious to avoid collateral damages as the kidnappers used the victims as human shields. Unfortunately, an Inspector of Police sustained a gunshot injury and is currently responding to treatment.
“This rescue effort eventually paid off as the ten (10) kidnapped students comprising eight (8) male and (2) females were released due to intense pressure mounted on them.”
-
Business2 days ago
LCCI, NIXIN Reel Actions to Boost Nigeria’s Paper Industry
-
International3 days ago
Trump Might Shut Down US Embassies in Africa — Report
-
News3 days ago
WASSCE 2025 Exams: WAEC Introduces New Paper Format to Curb Malpractices
-
Sports2 days ago
U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles Coach Unveils 24- Man Squad
-
Business3 days ago
$1.3b lithium factories set to take off Q2, 2025 — Alake
-
News2 days ago
Tinubu working remotely from overseas, returns after Easter – Presidency
-
News2 days ago
Easter: IG orders tight security, deployment of personnel to churches
-
News2 days ago
WAEC revokes licenses of 574 schools over exam malpractices