…50 editors, journalists to inspect projects across five states

..:Tour begins in Ebonyi, ends in Imo

…Organisers say initiative will deepen factual reporting on government programmes

By Adeko Ukpa

The Renewed Hope Ambassadors, in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team, will this weekend commence a five-day media tour of major Federal Government projects in the South-East as part of efforts to showcase the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The South-East edition of the Renewed Hope National Media Tour is scheduled to begin in Ebonyi State on Saturday, June 13, and conclude in Imo State on June 17, 2026.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Tunde Rahman, the exercise will bring together more than 50 editors and journalists from media organisations across the country for an extensive inspection of key infrastructure and development projects being executed by the Federal Government in the region.

Rahman said the tour is designed to provide media practitioners with firsthand knowledge of ongoing projects, completed interventions and developmental initiatives being undertaken by the Tinubu administration.

He explained that the media engagement would feature project inspections, interactions with stakeholders, media briefings and strategic discussions on national development issues.

The statement noted that all five states in the South-East geopolitical zone—Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Abia and Imo—would be covered during the exercise.

“The five-day media engagement will bring together over 50 editors and journalists from across Nigeria for an extensive tour designed to showcase the achievements, ongoing projects and developmental strides of the administration of President Bola Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement said.

Rahman described the initiative as a unique platform for promoting factual and evidence-based reporting on government programmes and strengthening relations between the media and public institutions.

According to him, the tour will also provide Nigerians with direct information on the impact of policies and projects being implemented across various parts of the country.

“The Renewed Hope National Media Tour remains a unique platform for promoting factual reporting, strengthening government-media relations and providing Nigerians with firsthand information on the impact of policies and programmes being implemented across the country,” he said.

The South-East tour follows a similar exercise conducted earlier in the North-West geopolitical zone, where over 70 editors and government officials undertook inspections of major Federal Government projects.

Among the projects inspected during the North-West tour were the Kaduna-Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project, the Kebbi corridor of the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway, the Kaduna Western Bypass, irrigation schemes in Jigawa State and ecological intervention projects in the Wujuwuju-Jakara area of Kano State.

Organisers expressed optimism that the South-East edition would further enhance public understanding of government programmes and provide independent assessments of ongoing infrastructure and development initiatives across the region.

By Adeko. Uukpa

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has cautioned judicial officers across the country against delivering judgments that could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process, warning that the international community is closely monitoring developments in the nation’s courts.

Frank, who spoke amid ongoing legal disputes involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its erstwhile deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, expressed concern over what he described as attempts to deploy the judiciary against opposition political parties ahead of future elections.

He called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the National Judicial Council (NJC), judges of the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to uphold the independence of the judiciary and resist pressure from politicians.

According to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, judicial decisions in politically sensitive cases must be guided strictly by the law and not partisan considerations.

“The Chief Judge and all judges of the Federal High Court, as well as judges across the country, should be cautious in the way they handle political and other sensitive cases at this time. They should be careful because the international community is watching and paying attention,” Frank said.

The political activist specifically referenced legal battles involving ADC and ex-deputy national vice chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, alleging that efforts were being made to secure court orders capable of weakening the Senator David Mark led opposition ADC and restricting its participation in the democratic process.

He claimed that he is aware of subterranean moves by the presidency to blackmail and intimidate the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court with corruption allegations in order to ensure that the ongoing ADC suit is assigned to a pliant judge who will rule to stop the Presidential Candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar and the party’s candidates for the position of Senate, House of Representatives, Governor and House of Assembly members in the forthcoming general elections.

He however warned that any such move would be resisted by well-meaning Nigerians towards sustaining and preserving democracy in the country.

He urged judges handling such matters to ensure justice is dispensed without fear or favour, warning that any judgment perceived as politically motivated could damage public confidence in the judiciary.

Frank who is a Senior Advisor, Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA, claimed that developments within Nigeria’s justice system were attracting growing international scrutiny.

“If they are not aware, I am reminding them that the international community is monitoring what is happening in Nigeria, including what many perceive as fraudulent judgments. There will be consequences and actions against those involved,” he stated.

He further alleged that judicial officers who aid attempts to derail democracy through questionable rulings could face sanctions from foreign governments and international institutions.

“From now on, if they do not know, I am telling them that there will be consequences from the international community, particularly from the American government, for judges who give judgments aimed at truncating democracy,” he said.

Frank also warned that such repercussions could extend beyond individual judicial officers.

“The consequences will affect not only them but also their families. There could be certain actions taken against them and their families. They should therefore be very careful,” he added.

Extending his appeal to all levels of the judiciary, Frank stressed that appellate courts were equally expected to protect democratic values and preserve the integrity of the electoral process.

“This warning is not only for the Federal High Court. It also applies to the entire judiciary, including judges of the Court of Appeal and Justices of the Supreme Court,” he said.

Describing the current political climate as critical, Frank urged judges not to allow themselves to be used as instruments for settling political disputes or excluding legitimate political actors from contesting elections.

“Everyone must understand that this election is very sensitive and very critical. If judges allow themselves to be used by the government or by politicians to undermine the process, there will be consequences,” he warned.

He maintained that democracy could only thrive where all qualified political parties and candidates are allowed to participate freely, insisting that the judiciary has a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation’s democratic institutions.

By Adeko Ukpa

The House of Representatives candidate for Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. Prince Obaro Razak, has raised the alarm over growing security threats in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, calling for urgent intervention by both state and federal authorities to protect residents and schools from suspected bandit attacks.

Rasak’s appeal followed security reports indicating that bandits are targeting schools in parts of Edo State, particularly in Akoko-Edo, where Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration has reportedly shut down some schools as a precautionary measure.

Speaking on the development, the NDC candidate expressed concern over the safety of residents and students, describing the situation as one that requires immediate and coordinated action from security agencies and government at all levels.

“There is a security alert in my local government. The government has closed down schools in Akoko-Edo because of the threat,” Razak said.

He urged the Edo State Government and the Federal Government to deploy every available resource towards securing communities threatened by criminal elements.

“I am using this opportunity to call on the state and federal governments, which have greater responsibility in matters of security, to do something urgently to secure our people, secure our land, secure our schools and secure our citizens,” he stated.

Rasak also advocated the establishment and deployment of forest guards as part of efforts to strengthen security surveillance in forests and border communities often exploited by criminals.

According to him, authorities should give serious consideration to the proposal as a practical measure for preventing attacks and tracking the movement of armed groups.

“They should think positively about the invitation and deployment of forest guards to watch over our forests and the boundary areas within Edo State. What is important is to secure our people and ensure that criminal elements do not operate freely,” he said.

The NDC candidate stressed that the protection of schools must be treated as a priority, warning that any attack on educational institutions could have devastating consequences for children, parents and communities.

He called on security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering, surveillance and patrol operations across Akoko-Edo and other vulnerable areas of the state to forestall any security breach.

The call comes amid heightened anxiety among residents following reports of threats by armed groups in parts of Edo North Senatorial District. Community leaders and parents have continued to urge the government to take proactive measures to guarantee the safety of students and residents and prevent a repeat of attacks witnessed in other parts of the country.

Razak maintained that swift action by the authorities would reassure residents, restore confidence in public safety and ensure that educational activities are not further disrupted by insecurity.