Infrastructure upgrade is a strong condition for the alleviation of rural and urban poverty, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has declared.

He made the declaration on Thursday at Asaba, the Delta state capital, affirming that provision of hard Infrastructure facilitates economic growth, ease business processes and enhances livelihood of both rural and urban residents.

According to the Governor, good roads, updated health and school facilities as well as soft Infrastructures empower the citizens to engage in productive economic and social activities which enhances state capacity to lift the populace out of poverty.

“I rejoice with my brother, the Governor of Delta, Rt Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori, for the successful completion of this major bypass which promises to positively transform the economic lives of residents of Ibusa and Okpanah. I listened to the anticipated expectations of leaders from both towns. The residents expect this Infrastructure to uplift their lives and ease their burden in both transportation and business transactions.

“Dubai and Qatar among other Gulf nations achieved accelerated growth because of their upgraded infrastructure. That is why in Osun State, I launched out early enough with a 100 days infra programme and later with a multi-billion naira infra plan. Our government has turned Osun into a huge construction site the same way my brother in Delta is doing.

“I know of the great job the Delta Governor is doing in Warri and across the Senatorial districts. I am happy to be part of this historic event. We are Governors delivering hard and soft infrastructure for our people.

“I call on Deltans to reinforce their support for my brother. His performance within such a short period confirms the correctness of the popular choice of Deltans. We Governor’s cannot do it alone. We need the total support of our people”, the Governor posited.

Speaking at the event, the host Governor narrated the commitment of his administration to bridging the infra gaps and complete the greater Delta agenda he inherited from his predecessor.

According to the Governor, Delta is on the path of accelerated growth flowing from increasing actions on completion of old projects and commencement of new ones for the common benefits of all Deltans.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared as invalid the Peoples Democratic Party’s primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as its governorship candidate.

The primary election conducted on February 22, 2024, was voided on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded by PDP.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo invalidated the primary election while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by the aggrieved delegates.

The suit marked THC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 was instituted by one Hon Kelvin Mohammed in a representative capacity.

Justice Ekwo held that both the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP Guidelines were grossly violated in the conduct of the primary election at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin.

The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorms and rains across the country from Wednesday to Friday.

In the weather forecast issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the agency said thunderstorms were expected on Wednesday morning over parts of Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Taraba, and Adamawa States.

Afternoon and evening thunderstorms were expected in Adamawa, Taraba, Jigawa, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi, and Gombe States.

Thunderstorms were forecasted for the morning and afternoon in various parts of the North Central states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory and Plateau.

In the South, morning rains were predicted in Lagos, Ondo, Delta, Ogun, Abia, Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States.

It predicted that Lagos would likely experience heavy rainfall that could cause floods.

On Thursday, NiMet envisioned thunderstorms and rains throughout the North, with morning thunderstorms in Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna States, followed by thunderstorms in Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, and Jigawa states later in the day.

Thunderstorms were predicted in the morning over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Kogi, and Niger States, and later in the day over Nasarawa, Plateau, and Benue.

Morning thunderstorms with rains were also expected over parts of Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Lagos, Delta, Abia, Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states in the South, while rains were expected over the entire region in the afternoon and evening.

NiMet predicted morning thunderstorms in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, and Gombe states on Friday, with thunderstorms expected throughout the Northern region later in the day.

NiMet advised the public to take precautions for thunderstorms and persistent rains, as high winds could arrive before rains and floods.

Meanwhile, heavy rains on Wednesday has left many residents of Lagos homeless, and the roads flooded.