News
Group tackles Ebonyi Governor over N551.5 million religious pilgrimage subsidy, says it’s economic prodigality
Worried by the prevalent poverty in Ebonyi State in the South Eastern Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, Oganihu Ebonyi has slammed Governor Francis Nwifuru for allocating N551.5 million pilgrimage subsidy to certain individuals in the State.
The group described the subsidy as economic sabotage, prodigality and misappropriation, wondering what value would the subsidy for those travelling on religious ground add to governance in the state.
Oganihu is a group of professionals from Ebonyi State thatt monitors governance and promote the success, sustainable progress, and development of Ebonyi State.
They said Governor Nwifuru was involved in financial absurdity lately and was the only governir in South East that spend billions of Naira sponsoring select individuals to travel around the world to worship their God.
In a statement signed by, Director of Research and Publications, Ani, Nwachukwu Agwu and Charles Otu, Director, Media and Communications, and made available to journalists in Abakiliki, stressed that Nwifuru’s action was against the interest of Ebonyi citizens and they didn’t expect them to get involved in frivolities at a time that abject poverty was staring on faces of people.
The statement urged the governor to invest more in security, basic education and primary healthcare and maternal care, rural access roads, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), decaying that substantial amount being committed as religious subsidy was detrimental to the growth and development of the State.
“We identify with Ebonyians on the public outrage generated by the Ebonyi State Government’s policy to spend N551.5 million subsidizing the 2025.
“When combined with the amount appropriated for Christian Pilgrimages and other state-sponsored religious excursions, religious subsidies run into billions of Naira and consume a significant percentage of the state’s annual appropriation laws.
“Relatedly, the recent spate of violent attacks on rural communities such as the Nkalaha community in Ishielu local council, where bandits destroyed properties and livelihoods worth billions of Naira, killed tens of innocent people, ransacked entire villages for plunders and displaced thousands of residents, suggest a resurgence of rural banditry in Ebonyi State.
“That criminal actors could perpetrate fatal attacks without effective confrontation or pushback from security agencies suggests a lack of adequate security response against state aggressors and criminals.
Why then should the Ebonyi State Government consider religious subsidy a priority at the expense of securing lives and properties? What is the logic?
“Another unsettling development in the state is the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) strike action on the grounds of nonpayment of salaries and arrears for about 6 months.
How can teachers go for months without salaries, and no official is held accountable and punished? We argue that the negligence so far suffered in managing the strike action is a death knell on the government’s policy priorities and orientation. Again, we approximate this negligence as economic sabotage.
” In the interim, we do not want to dabble into several allegations of grand corruption against some heads of Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDAs) and several other procurement infractions reported in the award of major contracts in the state because we are still collating and understudying these infractions so as to petition and institute legal challenges against all bureaucrats and politicians involved.
“However, we state our resolve and commitment to mount appropriate legal challenges to determine if wanton corruption is part of the official policy of the Ebonyi State Government.
We hope that this will open up the space for effective citizen engagement in resource governance and administration in the state.
“Back to the N551.5 million religious subsidy being the first tranche of billions of Naira wasted annually on religious excursions, we call on Governor Francis Nwifuru to rescind the policy and apologize to Ebonyians (voters and taxpayers) whom this religious subsidy saga has damaged their trust in the intention and capacity of the state government to pursue “the good life” or efficiently and effectively deliver democratic dividends.
We do not fail to recognize that religious freedom is a democratic right, but those who wish to travel around the globe to worship their God should do so at their own personal costs.
“The growing envelope of religious subsidy in this state is a misplaced priority and should be challenged or resisted by every patriotic citizen. We will keep our eyes on the religious subsidy and shall continue to adopt new democratic strategies to challenge its desirability and other policies we deem anti-people in Ebonyi State.”
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has expressed joy over the pace of work at the construction site of the first flyover bridge in Edo State, located at Ramat Park, in Benin City.
The project expected to be completed in 18 months is being executed by the administration of Governor Okpebholo. The project was flagged off in November, 2024, barely one week after Okpebholo assumed office as Governor of Edo State.
The contractor handling the project, Mr. Andy Duan of CCECC told Governor Okpebholo during an unscheduled visit to the site that 20 percent of the project had been done so far.
Duan noted that the construction, which started last year, has reached 20 percent of stage of completion, assuring the people that the company will work according to specifications.
“For this work which commenced in December 2024, we have done seven pillars, underground cross beams and other works are ongoing as we are doing our best to meet up with the construction period,” he stated.
Governor Okpebholo, on his part, said he is not sleeping, as he continues to monitor projects cross the State to ensure the jobs are done according to agreed specifications.
The Governor threatened to revoke contracts whose handlers were not working according to specifications and assured Edo people that under his administration, Edo people would benefit from quality infrastructural development.
“We are not sleeping. We go around the State to monitor all our ongoing projects to ensure quality job delivery. Also, to ensure contractors meet specifications.
“For the Ramat Park flyover, the contractor is doing well, and I am impressed with the speed of the job done so far. If they continue with this kind of speed and pace, I believe they will complete the construction at the stipulated time. The materials like the iron being used and other materials are of high quality and standard.
“Inspecting projects across the State is a way for us to know those who are working and those playing with the projects they were given.
“We have gone to some sites, and we are not happy with what we met as some of these contractors are not meeting our targets and not doing the jobs according to specifications. Such contracts will be revoked.
“As an administration, we want to leave a legacy for our people, and we must ensure that we fulfill all our promises made to Edo people. We will continue to inspect and monitor every project to put contractors on their toes to deliver quality jobs according to specifications for the benefit of Edo people.
“I am not happy with the job of one of the contractors working for us and we will invite him on Monday for a discussion and you may hear bad news because the way they are going is not the way a contract should be executed,” he added.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, John Obanor, who accompanied the Governor on the inspection of the flyover, said the project is on track.
He noted that the job is not being appreciated now by people because it is in its early stage, but sooner than later, as the work progresses, it will be appreciated better. He noted that the company handling the project is doing a good job.
Other road projects inspected by Governor Okpebholo included Uteh Temboga road, open drainage at upper Ekenhua road opposite Nigerian Army cantonment Benin City, Upper Ekenhua road and Catholic Charismatic Renewal road Ugbiyoko.
Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Victor Umeh has denied his involvement with 42 other Senators who received $10,000 each to support President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency in Rivers, saying he was absent from Wednesday’s meeting where the money was allegedly shared.
He reacted to viral allegation that Senators received $10,000 each to support the state of emergency in Rivers in the red Chamber, when the motion comes for ratification.
His denial was contained in a statement on Friday, where he distanced himself from Senators who shared the money, insisting that he was not among the 42 senators who collected $10,000 the previous day in order to pass the state of emergency resolution.
According to him, he came out to clear his name because reports in the media suggested that he was the one that coordinated the meeting along another Senator where each of them was offered $10,000, insisting that he wasn’t in that meeting and never benefitted from the bribe for support.
“I did not receive any money to support the state of emergency in Rivers State. I was not at any meeting where such payments were allegedly made,” Umeh stated.
Umeh explained that on the evening of Tuesday, he attended the traditional IFTAR (Breaking of Fasting) gathering at the Senate Guest House with their Muslim brothers and sisters, where he was asked to say the Christian prayers after Senator Adamu Aliero said the Muslim prayers after the IFTAR.
”I prayed for God to grant peace to all parts of Nigeria and reconciliation to all the warring parties in Rivers State.
“I prayed for love and for all Nigerians to embrace one another, for the good of our nation.”
“We did not discuss the State of Emergency in Rivers State at the IFTAR.”
“There were other Labour Party Senators at the IFTAR.”
Dismissing the allegations as backmail, the senator, assured his constituents that such reports would not distract him from providing good Representation, adding that the aim of the detractors was to create disaffection between him and the people and impugn his reputation.
He vowed that “I will not be distracted by their false reports, and I will continue to serve my constituents with dignity and integrity.”
Twelve persons have been arrested by officers of Kaduna State Police Command in connection with attack on a mosque which killed a worshipper during the Tahajjud prayer at Rigasa, in the Igabi Local Government Area of the State.
In a statement by the Command on Friday by the Spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Friday, said hoodlums’ attack on the mosque led to the death of a worshipper.
The statement noted that, “On 21st March 2025, at about 0200 hours, the police received a distress call from a m
concerned citizen, reporting that a large group of armed hoodlums had mobilised from Malalin Gabas, Tudun Wada, Rafin Guza, and Unguwar Baduko areas to attack worshippers performing Tahajjud prayer at Layin Bilya, Makwa Road, Rigasa, Kaduna.
“Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) led a team of officers, accompanied by the Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), to the scene in an attempt to apprehend the suspects.
“However, before their arrival, the assailants had already stabbed one Usman Mohammad, a 23-year-old victim, with a sharp knife. Despite being rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries hours later and was confirmed dead by the attending doctor.”
In response, the police swiftly apprehended twelve suspects who confessed to having participated in the attack and recovered several weapons from them.
A full-scale investigation has been launched to uncover the full details of the incident and ensure justice is served.
rom engaging in these criminal activities, stating that they will face the full weight of the law if caught.
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