K.C.D FORUM

The Federal Government has formalized agreements for eight major road projects across Nigeria, a move the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, says has already attracted investor interest—particularly in refunding and tolling components of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s flagship highway initiatives. The agreements were concluded between Wednesday and Thursday at the Ministry of Works headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja.

The signed projects include four legacy highways and four additional strategic routes spread across multiple states. These developments form part of the administration’s broader push to modernize Nigeria’s transport infrastructure and open new corridors for economic activity.

Key among the projects is Section II of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Abuja Superhighway, which cuts across Ebonyi State, Benue State, Kogi State, and Nasarawa State. Others include Section IV of the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway in Oyo State, Section V of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway in Akwa Ibom State, and Section II of the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Biu–Maiduguri Road, specifically the Gombe–Biu axis.

According to the Minister, these agreements signal growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s evolving infrastructure framework and represent a significant push toward delivering the administration’s long-term road development vision.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday confirmed the death of wanted Islamic State (IS) commander Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, following a joint counterterrorism raid by Nigerian and United States forces in the Lake Chad Basin. According to the President, initial assessments showed that the operation, conducted overnight, successfully eliminated the terrorist leader along with several of his top associates during a targeted strike on his compound.

Tinubu described the operation as a major success and a powerful demonstration of the growing security collaboration between Nigeria and the United States. In a personally signed statement, he praised the professionalism of the Nigerian Armed Forces and their US counterparts, noting that the mission delivered “a heavy blow” to the ranks of the Islamic State. He emphasized that international partnerships remain crucial in tackling the security challenges facing the region.

The President also expressed appreciation to US President Donald Trump for what he called his “leadership and unwavering support” in the joint mission. He commended the personnel involved in the operation for their bravery and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to sustaining decisive strikes on terrorist hideouts across the country. Tinubu stressed that the success of the mission reflects the importance of continued cooperation to safeguard regional and global security.

Reacting to the development, President Trump described the raid as a “meticulously planned and very complex mission” executed flawlessly by American and Nigerian forces. He identified Abu-Bilal al-Minuki as the “second in command of ISIS globally,” adding that the terrorist leader wrongly believed he could evade detection in Africa. Trump stated that the operation significantly weakened ISIS’s global capacity, and he thanked the Nigerian government for its partnership in carrying out the mission.

Donald Trump says Iran would be “wiped off the face of the Earth” if it attacks US ships, adding Tehran has become more flexible in negotiations but warning military operations could resume without a deal.

After the US Central Command says it has sunk six Iranian boats, according to its commander, Brad Cooper. He says US forces have opened a corridor in the Strait of Hormuz to secure navigation and are continuing to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports.⁠

But an Iranian military official has denied a US Navy report that Iranian small boats were sunk, according to Iranian state media.⁠

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed Abuja for an official three-nation tour that will take him to France, Kenya, and Rwanda. His trip was first announced in a statement signed on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy. In a follow-up update on Saturday, Onanuga confirmed that the journey, earlier scheduled for Saturday, had been shifted to begin on Sunday.

According to the presidency, the visit will commence with a stop in France before President Tinubu proceeds to Nairobi, where he is expected to participate in the Africa-France Summit. The summit, co-chaired by Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto, is slated for May 11–12 and will focus on issues such as energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, global financial reforms, and climate action.

The presidency noted that Tinubu’s participation underscores Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening strategic ties with both African nations and the French Republic. The summit, themed “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” will provide a forum for leaders to discuss key areas including climate resilience, economic transformation, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, technological progress, and peace-building initiatives.

Following the summit in Kenya, President Tinubu is scheduled to travel to Kigali for the annual Africa CEO Forum taking place from May 14 to 15. This year’s forum, themed “Scale or Fail,” is expected to be the continent’s largest gathering of private-sector leaders, investors, and policymakers, with discussions centred on accelerating Africa’s economic transformation through regional integration, shared scale, and expanded cross-border investments.