Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu has defended her recent comments about supporting women running akara and roasted corn businesses, saying the Federal Government’s empowerment programme extends to many other small-scale traders.   Speaking on Monday during the inauguration of the Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall at the Emir of Hadejia’s Palace in Jigawa State, Tinubu said beneficiaries of the initiative also include traders selling tomatoes, pepper, vegetables and roasted plantain, popularly known as bole. Her comments came after she faced criticism on social media over earlier remarks highlighting akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli businesses as viable sources of income for women amid Nigeria’s economic hardship. “It’s not only akara. We also have tomato sellers. We have bole, and those selling pepper and vegetables in the market. We’ll continue to empower them and add to their resources so that their trade can really be sustainable,” she said. According to the First Lady, the Federal Government has provided ₦100 million to the Jigawa State government to support 2,000 petty traders, with each beneficiary receiving ₦50,000 to recapitalise their businesses. Tinubu said the government would not be discouraged by criticism of the programme. “I know all those people who are affected, they do appreciate it. And we are not intimidated by all those wrong reports. But we are forging ahead and making sure that our people are well cared for,” she said. She also encouraged young Nigerians to embrace agriculture, saying the country has enormous untapped opportunities beyond the oil sector. She cited an orange orchard she recently visited in Benue State as an example of the sector’s potential.

The Federal Government says it has completed the first section of the 118-kilometre Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway project, valued at ₦257 billion, while the remaining 164 kilometres are expected to be completed by November 2026.   The announcement was made by Minister of Works, David Umahi, after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, according to Channels Television. Umahi also disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved 27 road projects worth more than ₦3.9 trillion across 15 states as part of the Federal Government’s infrastructure development programme. The approved projects cover Adamawa, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe states. Among the largest approvals is the re-award of the 409-kilometre dual carriageway in Niger State under the tax credit scheme to Aliko Dangote at a cost of ₦1.8 trillion. Other major projects approved include: ₦276 billion for the dualisation of the Ilorin-Ogbomoso Road. ₦265 billion for the reconstruction of the Iseyin-Eruwa-Agbesi Road, linking Oyo and Kwara states. ₦217 billion for the dualisation of the old alignment from Ijaye through the Federal Government College to Ilorin Road with a spur to Akinmorin. ₦116 billion for the Abakaliki-Afikpo Road in Ebonyi State. The council also approved projects including the Ogbomoso-Oko-Illupu Road, rehabilitation of the Ilorin-Omorin-Ebe-Kabba-Obajana Road, construction of the Idi-Araba-Ayede-Olodo Road, rehabilitation of the Baban-Lamba-Sharan Phase Two Road, reconstruction of the Enugu-Abakaliki Road, and several other highway and bridge projects across the country. In addition, the minister said the council approved the full business case for the operation and maintenance concession of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and directed that failed sections along the Ibadan axis be reconstructed using concrete pavement.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted ₦200 million bail to African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, who is facing alleged cybercrime charges.   In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Sowore to produce two sureties. One must be a traditional ruler from his community, while the other must own landed property in Abuja. The court also directed the prosecution to verify both sureties. As part of the bail conditions, Sowore was ordered to surrender his international passport to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court pending the conclusion of the trial. The judge released the defendant to his lawyers and adjourned proceedings until Monday, July 6, when the court is expected to begin hearing Sowore’s defence. The ruling comes after the court earlier ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre while considering his application for a stay of the order revoking his bail and the bench warrant issued against him. Justice Umar had also dismissed Sowore’s application seeking his recusal from the case over allegations of bias. The Department of State Services is prosecuting Sowore over allegations that he made false claims about Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts. The case will resume on July 6 for the opening of the defence.

Another batch of evacuated Nigerians has arrived in Lagos from South Africa as the Federal Government continues its emergency evacuation programme.   According to Channels Television, an Air Peace flight carrying about 271 evacuees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport shortly before 11 a.m. on Tuesday. The latest return follows the government’s decision to evacuate Nigerians amid tensions and anti-migrant protests in parts of South Africa. Authorities have yet to provide further details on the condition of the returnees or the next phase of the evacuation exercise. More information is expected as officials address the arrival of the evacuees.