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FCC seeks partnership with Water Resources Ministry on equitable distribution of water projects

Published

10 months ago

December 9, 2025

The Acting Executive Chairman, Federal Character Commission (FCC), Mr Kayode Oladele has sought for stronger collaboration between the Commission and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.

Oladele said the synergy is to ensure fair and equitable distribution of water-related infrastructure across the country.

Oladele made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, in Abuja.

He said the visit was anchored on the Commission’s second mandate, which focuses on ensuring equitable distribution of social amenities and infrastructure in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to him, although many Nigerians associate the FCC mainly with the equitable distribution of public sector job opportunities, its constitutional responsibility extends to the enforcement of fairness in the provision of social and economic infrastructure.

He cited Part II, Section 4 of the FCC Act, which empowers the Commission to promote and monitor equitable distribution of water resources, dams, irrigation systems, sanitation facilities and other related infrastructure across the federation.

Oladele stressed that fair access to safe water and sanitation remained a fundamental human right and a critical factor in public health, food security, poverty reduction, climate resilience and national development.

“Our visit today is anchored on the second mandate of our Commission, ensuring the equitable distribution of social amenities and infrastructure, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“And our shared commitment to building a fairer, more inclusive, and more prosperous Nigeria.

“No community in Nigeria should remain marginalised or water-insecure due to government neglect, political patronage or poor representation,” he said.

He said the Commission was developing an Integrated Federal Character Compliance Database (IFCCD) to support evidence-based monitoring of federal projects, including those in the water sector.

Oladele called for the establishment of an FCC–Ministry of Water Resources working group, improved compliance reporting by contractors and agencies, access to project data, and enhanced public sensitisation to promote equity and transparency in project distribution.

Responding, Prof. Utsev said the ministry had consistently implemented its programmes in line with fairness and equity to ensure that no community or geopolitical zone was left behind.

He said the ministry was currently executing the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project across the six geopolitical zones.

The project, he explained, focuses on rehabilitating dams, boosting hydropower generation and expanding irrigation schemes to support the country’s food security drive.

“ The ministry is currently implementing the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria SPIN project across the six geopolitical zones in the country which is aimed at rehabilitating existing dams ,boosting hydropower generation, and scaling up irrigation farming to achieve food security.

“Through Clean Nigeria; Use the Toilet Campaign we are carrying out massive sensitisation of citizens across the country on the importance of promoting personal hygiene through the proper use of decent toilets at all times to ensure that Nigeria achieved the open defecation free target by the year two thousand and thirty.

Utsev also highlighted the ministry’s ongoing efforts under the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign, aimed at promoting personal hygiene and accelerating progress toward making Nigeria open-defecation-free by 2030.

He assured the FCC of the ministry’s readiness to partner closely with the Commission to further strengthen equitable distribution of water, irrigation and sanitation projects nationwide.

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Eagle Times Newspaper Will Be Voice for Nigerians – Publisher Chukwunyere Vows

Published

3 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Publisher of The Eagle Times Nigeria, Sir Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, has pledged that the newspaper will promote accountability, credible journalism and public-interest reporting in its coverage of national affairs.
Chukwunyere made the commitment on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during the official unveiling and launch of The Eagle Times Nigeria.

He said the new media organisation was established not merely to add another newspaper to Nigeria’s media landscape, but to provide a platform committed to serving the public interest.

According to him, the newspaper’s guiding philosophy, “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation,” places a responsibility on the organisation to listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight issues affecting their daily lives and scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibilities.

“To be a voice for the people means that we must listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight their concerns and give visibility to issues that affect their daily lives,” he said.

The publisher added that The Eagle Times would be guided by accuracy, fairness, professionalism, credibility and responsible journalism, stressing that the newspaper would not publish stories merely because they were sensational.

“We will verify. We will investigate. We will seek the other side. We will correct our mistakes when we make them,” he said.

Chukwunyere further stated that the newspaper would endeavour to give individuals and organisations the opportunity to respond whenever allegations were made against them.
“Our commitment is not to any political party, government or individual. Our primary commitment is to journalism, to truth and to the Nigerian public,” he said.

He noted that the newspaper was launching at a time when the media industry was undergoing rapid transformation, with audiences increasingly consuming news through digital platforms, including websites, television, podcasts and social media.

He said The Eagle Times would therefore operate as a multimedia organisation, combining its newspaper with digital platforms and The Eagle Times TV to reach audiences across different channels.

According to him, the organisation also intends to create opportunities for young journalists, writers, photographers, producers, digital creators and other media professionals to develop their skills and contribute to journalism and national development.

Chukwunyere said the newspaper’s coverage would include politics, governance, business, economy, security, judiciary, education, health, technology, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and international affairs.

He, however, said the organisation intended to distinguish itself not only by the subjects it covered but by the quality and approach of its journalism.

We want to tell stories that matter, we want to investigate issues that require investigation, we want to highlight Nigerians who are making a difference, and we want to give communities that are often ignored an opportunity to be heard,” he said.

The publisher acknowledged the challenges involved in establishing a newspaper, saying the venture required investment, commitment, professional discipline and the courage to pursue an idea.

He expressed appreciation to the management, editorial, reporting, production and digital teams, as well as families, friends, partners and supporters who contributed to the establishment of the organisation.

Chukwunyere also assured readers, viewers and the newspaper’s digital audience that The Eagle Times would strive to earn their trust and remain accountable to the standards it had set for itself.

He said the newspaper’s success would not be measured only by circulation figures, website traffic or social media followers, but also by the confidence Nigerians placed in its journalism.

“Today, we spread our wings. Today, The Eagle Times takes flight,” he said, reaffirming the newspaper’s commitment to its slogan: “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation.”

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