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Edo Governor Unveils ₦939.85 Billion ‘Budget of Hope’ To Transform State.

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11 months ago

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Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday presented the ₦939.85 billion 2026 Appropriation Bill, tagged the “Budget of Hope and Growth,” to the Edo State House of Assembly. The presentation took place during a plenary session presided over by Speaker Blessing Agbebaku.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Okpebholo commended the House for their cooperation, noting that the support enabled the successful implementation of the 2025 Budget, which delivered tangible benefits to residents. He highlighted that capital and recurrent expenditures performed strongly, while internally generated revenue improved significantly through enhanced revenue collection and reduced leakages.

The governor stated that the achievements of his first year in office informed the priorities of the 2026 fiscal plan. On security, Okpebholo emphasized his administration’s determination to rid the state of criminal activities, recalling that over 300 cult-related killings were recorded in 2024. Measures such as the passage of a stronger anti-cultism law, the provision of patrol vehicles and motorcycles, and the recruitment of 2,500 security officers have reportedly reduced insecurity across the state.

In health, the governor outlined plans to rebuild the state’s healthcare system, including the construction of new Primary Health Centres, provision of diagnostic equipment, and the ongoing building of a 150-bed Specialist Hospital in Edo Central. Infrastructure development also featured prominently, with 28 new road projects covering 255 kilometres, including Edo State’s first flyovers in Benin City at Ramat Park and Sapele Road.

Agriculture received a substantial boost, with its budget increasing from ₦6.9 billion to ₦57 billion, enabling the cultivation of over 400 hectares of farmland to combat food insecurity. In education, 5,000 permanent teachers were recruited, 63 schools upgraded, and tertiary institutions saw significant increases in monthly subventions.

On economic growth, Okpebholo noted efforts to reduce inherited debts and highlighted over 10,000 jobs created, alongside a ₦1 billion interest-free loan scheme for market women and traders. Governance reforms included the swearing-in of previously sidelined judges, re-establishment of customary courts, and strengthening traditional institutions.

The 2026 budget allocates ₦637 billion (68%) to capital expenditure and ₦302 billion (32%) to recurrent expenditure. Funding sources include internally generated revenue of ₦160 billion, FAAC allocations of ₦480 billion, capital receipts and grants of ₦153 billion, and Public-Private Partnerships worth ₦146 billion. Sectoral allocations include ₦614.2 billion for the economic sector, ₦148.9 billion for the social sector, ₦157.7 billion for administration, and ₦19 billion for justice, with provisions for regional development and local government support.

Anchored on the SHINE Agenda—Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources/Agriculture, and Education—the budget aims to deliver people-centred development across Edo State. The plenary session was attended by the Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, the Secretary to the State Government Umar Musa Ikhilor, former deputies, members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, civil society groups, and journalists.

Governor Okpebholo expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for revenue-boosting reforms and thanked state officials, traditional and religious leaders, and civil servants before formally presenting the ₦939.85 billion 2026 Edo State Appropriation Bill for consideration and approval.

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Federal High Court Declares Christmas Break, Names Judges To Handle Cases – Full List.

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13 hours ago

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November 9, 2026

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The Federal High Court has announced that its 2026 Christmas vacation will begin on Monday, December 21, and end on Tuesday, January 5, 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The court is expected to resume regular sittings on Wednesday, January 6, 2027.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Information of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Dr Catherine Oby Christopher.

According to the statement, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, approved the vacation arrangement and the appointment of judges who will handle cases during the period.

Christopher explained that only designated judicial divisions would remain operational throughout the vacation to provide essential judicial services.

She added that the vacation judges would handle only matters involving the enforcement of fundamental human rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other issues of urgent national importance, including the trial of pre-election cases.

The statement read:

“Pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil) Procedure Rules, 2019, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, KSS, OFR, FCIArb. (UK), has approved the Christmas Vacation of the Court for the year 2026 and the roster of Judges designated to sit during the vacation period.

“The Christmas Vacation shall commence on Monday, 21st December 2026, and end on Tuesday, 5th January, 2027.

“Regular court sittings shall resume on Wednesday, 6th January 2027.

“During the vacation period, only the designated Judicial Divisions shall remain operational to provide judicial services to the litigating public.

“It is important to note that, during the vacation period, the Vacation Judges shall entertain only matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other matters of urgent national importance such as trial of pre-election cases.”

Full List Of Federal High Court Vacation Judges

The judges designated to handle cases during the Christmas vacation are as follows:

Abuja Judicial Division

  1. Justice I. E. Ekwo

  2. Justice O. A. Egwuatu

Lagos Judicial Division

  1. Justice Akintayo Aluko

  2. Justice Ogazi F. Nkemakonam

Port Harcourt Judicial Division

  1. Justice P. M. Ayua

  2. Justice A. T. Mohammed

Enugu Judicial Division

  1. Justice F. O. G. Ogunbanjo

  2. Justice M. T. Segun-Bello

The statement added that the Chief Judge extended Christmas and New Year greetings to all judges and members of the court.

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Eric Chelle Makes Surprise Exit From Nigeria U-23 Camp Ahead Of Tanzania Clash.

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13 hours ago

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November 9, 2026

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Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has departed Nigeria’s U-23 team camp to concentrate on the senior national team’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixtures against Tanzania.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Chelle, who also supervises the Olympic Eagles, will be unavailable for Nigeria’s two-legged U-23 AFCON qualifying tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) because both teams have matches scheduled during the same international window.

The Olympic Eagles are scheduled to travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg against DR Congo on Friday, November 13. The encounter will take place on the same day the Super Eagles host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

The return leg is slated for Tuesday, November 17, in Ikenne, coinciding with Nigeria’s second meeting with Tanzania.

In Chelle’s absence, assistant coach Deniran Ortega will oversee the Olympic Eagles, working alongside Ikorodu City head coach Bright Ozebagbe.

Ortega reportedly conducted most of the team’s training sessions on Thursday and led the technical crew during their friendly victory over Grassrunners on Friday, ahead of the squad’s departure for the first leg.

Meanwhile, Chelle has selected 23 players for the Super Eagles’ AFCON qualifying matches against Tanzania. Among the notable inclusions are Brighton forward Zadok Yohanna and Molde FC midfielder Daniel Daga.

Goalkeeper Michael Atata and junior international Abdulmuiz Adeleke have also earned places in the squad. Atata will compete for the goalkeeping position alongside Samuel James of SJK FC and Clinton Andy.

Other notable selections include defenders Victory Akpe, Vince Osuji and Emmanuel Ochobi, as well as midfielders Chibuzor Nwoko and Aderemi Adeoye.

The attacking options also feature Peter Edokpolor and Umar Abubakar.

The seven home-based players in the squad are expected to depart Nigeria on Tuesday for the Olympic Eagles’ first-leg encounter against DR Congo at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi.

Full Nigeria U-23 Squad

Goalkeepers: Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Clinton Andy (Rivers United); Michael Atata (Ikorodu City).

Defenders: Christian Akpan (Genk FC, Belgium); Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland); Vince Osuji (Tromsø IL FC, Norway); Emmanuel Godwin (Pardubice FC, Czechia); Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United); Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United); Aliu Sugau (Barau FC).

Midfielders: John Otomewo (Reims FC, France); Daniel Daga (Molde FC, Norway); Wilfred George (Kristiansund FC, Norway); Chibuzor Nwoko (Fulham FC, England); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City); Sadiq Saleh (FC Metta, Latvia); Victor Samuel (Pardubice FC, Czechia).

Forwards: Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal); Sulaiman Sani (Al-Qadsiah FC, Saudi Arabia); Umar Abubakar (FC Famalicao, Portugal); Zadok Yohanna (Brighton FC, England); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia); Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme).

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“Behave Yourself!” – Seyi Tinubu Fires Back At Isaac Fayose Over Port Harcourt ‘City Boy’ Walk.

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13 hours ago

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November 9, 2026

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Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has criticised political commentator Isaac Fayose over his remarks about the City Boy movement’s walk in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Fayose had taken to social media to question the gathering, describing it as a waste of time and expressing doubts about the number of people who attended the event.

Responding in the comment section of the post, Seyi urged the businessman to conduct himself properly instead of criticising the group’s activities.

He defended the Port Harcourt walk, describing it as a successful and peaceful gathering organised by young Nigerians in support of President Tinubu and his administration.

Seyi wrote: “My content creator Egbon e behave ara yin o. You and I both know that those gallant men and women were there for the city boy walk in PH, which was a success by the way. Vote APC.”

In a related development, Fayose has alleged that he is being targeted with false accusations because of his support for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, made the allegation in a video shared on his verified Facebook page on Sunday.

He was reacting to a post by an unnamed blogger linking him to a rape allegation, which he denied, describing it as a fabrication intended to damage his reputation because of his refusal to withdraw support for Obi.

Fayose further alleged that individuals who turn down offers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) are often subjected to smear campaigns.

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