Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said the South-East will eventually produce a Nigerian President, but not in 2027. In a statement addressing a report titled The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South East Missing from the Map?, Umahi urged people in the region to rally behind President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election.

He dismissed the report as false and misleading, saying it was crafted to paint the Tinubu administration as neglecting the South-East in infrastructure development.

“Politics has taken over, and some people are now trying to mislead the public just to appear as if they’re fighting for the people,” he said. “They ignore the real and selfless projects President Tinubu is carrying out across the country.”

Umahi, who is also the former governor of Ebonyi State, revealed that he has instructed all zonal directors under the Ministry of Works to return to project sites nationwide and document both inherited and new projects, so Nigerians can see the extent of the work being done.

He noted that President Tinubu is focused on uniting Nigerians through fair distribution of infrastructure, regardless of political differences. “Only those willing to open their eyes will see the transformation happening across the country,” he added.

Loni Anderson, the golden-haired TV icon best known for playing Jennifer Marlowe on the classic sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, has died at the age of 79. Her passing comes after a long battle with illness, just two days shy of her 80th birthday. She died peacefully in Los Angeles, surrounded by loved ones, according to her publicist.

Anderson became a household name in the late 1970s with her sharp, confident, and glamorous portrayal of Jennifer; the clever receptionist who stood out not just for her beauty, but for her brains. The role earned her two Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nods. It also made her one of the most recognizable faces on television at the time.

While WKRP was her breakthrough, Loni’s career stretched far beyond that one show. She took on a mix of roles in TV movies and series throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, including a standout performance as Thelma Todd in a true-crime drama. She also starred in comedies like Easy Street and had recurring roles in shows like Nurses.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has assured residents of Abuja that more development projects are on the way, stressing that his work is far from over. Speaking at a media parley in Abuja, Wike explained that the Tinubu-led government inherited numerous challenges, but steps are being taken to address them.

He emphasized that the recent commissioning of projects was simply to mark the president’s second year in office, not a signal that the work is done. “There’s still a lot ahead,” he said. “We’re working on several roads like Pai to Gomani, Deidei, Kasana where the Renewed Hope Housing Estate is located, and we’re also pushing forward with the Court of Appeal division and Federal High Court justices’ quarters.”

Wike also mentioned road projects like the continuation of the N5 and N20, as well as ongoing efforts under the ‘Lit Up Abuja’ initiative, especially with the city’s 50th anniversary coming up next February. He added that school rehabilitation is also in progress, stressing that the workload is massive.

“I haven’t taken any break,” he said. “After 16 days of back-to-back commissioning, many wouldn’t have lasted.” Wike said the current government is working to fix problems that have lingered since 1999, but reminded Nigerians that it’s unrealistic to expect everything to be solved in just two years.