By George Mgbeleke

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday requested the National Assembly to formally prove a foreign loan to the tune US$5168,333,007 for the construction of Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway Project.

In a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and read to Senators at the Thursday plenary, President Tinubu urged the lawmakers to prove the proposed foreign loan for financing arrangement of a syndicated loan facility of US$516,333,007 for construction of the Sokoto and Badagry Superhighway Project.

The official communication reads:

“The purpose of this communication is to formally request the resolution of the National Assembly, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 16 and 21 of the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act, 2011, to approve a proposed foreign financing arrangement of a syndicated loan facility of US$516,333,007 for the construction of the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway Project.

“Specifically, approval is sought for:

A. The syndicated financing facility from Deutsche Bank in the total sum of US$516,333,007 for the execution of Sections 1, 1A, and 1B of the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway Project.

B. The inclusion of the said financing in the Federal Government’s borrowing plan, as earlier approved by the National Assembly.
The Senate is invited to note that the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway is a flagship infrastructure initiative under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The project is designed to open up Nigeria’s northwest–southwest economic corridor through the construction of an approximately 1,000-kilometre high-capacity carriageway, linking Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos States, stretching from Illela to Badagry.

“The project is expected to:
Enhance north–south connectivity and road safety

“Improve network performance along the corridor

“Reduce logistics costs and travel time

“Facilitate trade and strengthen food security.”

Continuing the statement added, “Promote national integration by linking production zones to markets and ports
Provide long-term intermodal flexibility through provision for future rail integration and utility corridors

“The proposed financing arrangement comprises a syndicated loan to be secured through Deutsche Bank AG, supported by a partial risk guarantee from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), the insurance arm of the Islamic Development Bank.

“The Federal Government will provide counterpart funding in the sum of ₦265,542,689,569, covering land acquisition, compensation, and ancillary infrastructure.

“The loan has a tenure of nine years, including a grace period of up to three years, with an interest rate not exceeding the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) SOFR plus 5.3 percent per annum.

“The Federal Executive Council has approved the financing arrangement and its terms.

“In light of the foregoing, approval is hereby requested from the National Assembly for:
The syndicated loan facility of US$516,333,007

“The inclusion of the facility in the borrowing plan

“The execution of Sections 1, 1A, and 1B of the project, covering approximately 120 kilometres

“A draft resolution is attached for ease of reference.”

He expressed optimism that he looks forward to the expeditious consideration and approval of this request by the Senate.”

Meanwhile,Following the presentation of the President’s request, the letter was referred to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, with a directive to report back within one week.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Adamu Aliero commended the President for initiating what he described as a landmark project that had remained on the drawing board for over five decades.

He noted that the project is already taking shape, citing firsthand inspection of completed and ongoing sections.

According to him, the superhighway—constructed using reinforced concrete and equipped with solar-powered street lighting—meets modern infrastructure standards.

The senator stated that significant portions of the road pass through multiple states, adding that the project would drastically reduce travel time between Sokoto and Lagos from approximately 13 hours to about six hours.

He described the initiative as transformative, with the potential to positively impact the northwest, north-central, and southwest regions of the country.

Senator Aliero urged his colleagues to support the project by approving the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts once it is presented.

In his remarks, the President of Se Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, aligned with the position, describing the project as a major economic game changer capable of saving lives and boosting national productivity.

He emphasized that borrowing for critical infrastructure is justified, particularly where such investments yield long-term economic benefits and can facilitate repayment through generated value.

The Senate leadership subsequently urged the committee to expedite its review to enable timely consideration and approval.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

A Niger Delta Think Tank, the Movement of Intellectuals for National Development (MIND), has commended the Federal Government over its directive on strict compliance with the Nigerian Immigration Law.

MIND, in a letter to the Minister of Interior, signed by its Western Coordinator, Ebi Warekromo, stated that the Ministry’s firm statement condemning the abuse of Nigeria’s immigration framework by certain expatriate workers and their employers operating within the country was a welcome development.

According to him, the Ministry’s ‘’clear and decisive position sends a strong signal that the Federal Government remains committed to upholding the rule of law, protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s immigration system, and safeguarding employment opportunities that should rightfully be available to qualified Nigerians.’’

Warekromo, while recalling a recent petition by the group that was submitted to the National Assembly, vowed that it would continue to work with all relevant agencies of the government to expose abuse of Nigeria’s Immigration Law.

The statement read in part: ‘’Our organization had recently submitted a petition to the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, highlighting disturbing patterns of non-compliance with immigration and expatriate quota regulations by some multinational corporations operating in Nigeria. The petition specifically drew attention to issues relating to the operations of TotalEnergies Nigeria, including allegations of expatriate personnel occupying positions that are ordinarily meant for Nigerians, the misuse of expatriate quota approvals, and practices that undermine the objectives of Nigeria’s labour and local content policies.

It is therefore highly reassuring to note the Ministry’s strong condemnation of such practices and its commitment to ensuring strict compliance with Nigeria’s immigration laws. We believe this position is both timely and necessary to protect national interests, strengthen institutional accountability, and ensure that expatriate participation in Nigeria’s economy genuinely contributes to skills transfer and national development.

In light of this, the Movement of Intellectuals for National Development expresses its readiness to work constructively with the Ministry of Interior and its relevant agencies in identifying and addressing cases of immigration law violations. We believe that collaboration between regulatory institutions and responsible civil society organizations will significantly enhance efforts aimed at curbing these detrimental practices.

ABUJA, April 16, 2026, The HallowMace Foundation and Partners have officially released the final list of the last three outstanding nominees per Nigeria’s six geo-political zones for the upcoming National Legislative Award, scheduled to take place in July 2026.

After a rigorous selection process incorporating input from Nigerian citizens and the National Assembly Press Corps, the Foundation and Partners finalized the roster of distinguished Senators and House of Representatives members who have demonstrated exceptional legislative performance.

The nominees are grouped by geo-political zone as follows:

*SOUTH EAST*

*Senate*
Sen. Enyinnaya Abariba
Sen. Victor Umeh
Sen. Osita Izunaso

*House of Reps*
Hon. Benjamin Kalu
Hon. Dominic Okafor
Hon. Chike Okafor

*SOUTH SOUTH*

*Senate*
Sen. Seriake Dickson
Sen. Adams Oshiomole
Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong

*House of Reps*
Hon. Frederick Agbedi
Hon. Francis Waive
Hon. Inombek Awaji-Abiante

*SOUTH WEST*

*Senate*
Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele
Sen. Solomon Olamilekan
Sen. Abdulfattah Buhari

*House of Reps*
Hon. Akin Rotimi
Hon. Babajimi Benson
Hon. Oluwole Oke

*NORTH CENTRAL*

*Senate*
Sen. Sani Musa
Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduanghan
Sen. Aliyu Wadada

*House of Reps*
Hon. Terseer Ugbor
Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi
Hon. Jonathan G. Gaza

*NORTH EAST*

*Senate*
Sen. Abdul Ninji
Sen. Muhammed Monguno
Sen. Muhammed Danjuma Goje

*House of Reps*
Hon. Laori K. Bitrus
Hon. Ahmadu Usman Jaha
Hon. Bello Usman Kumo

*NORTH WEST*

*Senate*
Sen. Hussaini Babangida Uba
Sen. Sunday Katung
Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

*House of Reps*
Hon. Hassan Fulata
Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki
Hon. Sada Soli

According to the Organisers, these nominees represent the *“last three”* standing per zone following extensive voting by Nigerian public and legislative correspondents. They have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to lawmaking, oversight, and constituency representation.

*Voting For The Next Stage Now Open*
The HallowMace Foundation and Partners hereby announce that voting for the final selection stage has commenced effective today, April 16, 2026. In this crucial phase, members of the public are invited to vote to select one Senator and one House of Representatives member per geo-political zone from the list of final nominees.

Email: thenationallegislativeawards@gmail.com

This stage of voting shall close on the last day of April 2026 (April 30, 2026) . Winners will be determined by a combination of public votes and final validation by the National Assembly Press Corps.

The National Legislative Award ceremony is set to hold in July 2026, where the final winners will be unveiled and celebrated for their dedication to the Nigerian project.

*About HallowMace Foundation*
The HallowMace Foundation is a non-partisan organization committed to promoting legislative excellence and accountability across Nigeria.

*Signed:*

Amb. Oguh Hyginus John
*Head, Public Communications Desk*
The National Legislative Awards Planning Committee