First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for transforming Abuja’s City Gate into a modern recreational and environmental centre.

Speaking during a ceremony to recognise the FCT Administration’s environmental achievements under the Renewed Hope Green Initiative, Mrs Tinubu described the facelift of the City Gate as remarkable and commended Wike for improving the appearance of the nation’s capital.

She also urged state governments to embrace environmental projects and involve young people in conservation efforts. The First Lady disclosed that a ₦50 million Green Challenge prize was created to encourage states to rehabilitate abandoned public spaces and illegal dumpsites but expressed disappointment that no state participated.

Mrs Tinubu recalled her involvement in environmental advocacy as a student, saying it inspired her commitment to protecting the environment.

Responding, Wike said the City Gate project was inspired by the First Lady’s encouragement for the FCT Administration to improve Abuja’s aesthetics. He explained that her repeated advice prompted the administration to redesign the area in collaboration with the original designers of the City Gate.

The minister said the project has turned the location into a vibrant public space that attracts residents and visitors, especially in the evenings.

Wike also announced plans to replicate similar projects in other parts of Abuja, including the Life Camp district, where an existing green area will be redeveloped into a modern recreational centre.

He reaffirmed the FCT Administration’s commitment to environmental sustainability, noting that clean surroundings and well-maintained green spaces are essential to building a world-class capital city.

In a gesture that is likely to open debate about aid options, Canva billionaires Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht are investing $150 million in an ambitious experiment that challenges conventional aid by putting cash directly into the hands of Malawi’s poorest households.

Since launching the initiative in 2021 through the Canva Foundation and nonprofit GIVEDIRECTLY, the couple has expanded what began as a $10 million pilot into the largest unconditional cash transfer program ever attempted in a low-income country.

Their strategy is not building infrastructure or distributing food, but the programme sends cash directly to recipients via mobile phones, with no strings attached. Each adult receives about $550—an amount that can exceed a year’s income for many Malawians.

The initiative has expanded rapidly. With initial commitment of $50 million between 2021 and 2023, the couple pledged another $100 million in October 2025, so far the largest single donation in GiveDirectly’s history.

In justifying the initiative, the founders said Canva has always been guided by what they call a “simple yet ambitious” two-step plan.

According to them: “Step One is to build one of the world’s most valuable companies. Step Two is to do the most good we can. With more than 30% of Canva’s value (shares) committed to doing good in the world, this vision has shaped everything we do, from the products we create to the kind of company we’ve strived to be.”

So far, more than $52.5 million has reached recipients, with the remainder scheduled for distribution over the next four years.

Early results have been striking. In Malawi’s Khongoni sub-district, where every adult received cash, 90% of recipients rose above the extreme poverty line within three months, according to GiveDirectly.

The result, according to the organisation’s reported, is a 48% decline in child mortality, a 27% reduction in illness and a 23% increase in school enrolment. More than 139,000 people have benefited from the programme.

Researchers have also found broader economic gains. A study showed that every $1,000 transferred generated roughly $2,400 in local economic activity as recipients spent and reinvested the money in nearby businesses. Fears that the influx of cash would trigger inflation failed to materialise, with markets absorbing the increased spending.

Testing the model
The next phase is even larger. In Malawi’s Chiradzulu district, the program aims to reach 185,000 people by early 2027 in what GiveDirectly says is the world’s largest randomised controlled trial of unconditional cash transfers.

Conducted in collaboration with the Malawian government, the study will examine whether additional support, such as technical assistance or community grants, yields better outcomes than cash alone.

For Perkins and Obrecht, the project reflects a broader philosophy. The pair, who signed the Giving Pledge in 2021, have committed to donating most of their Canva wealth through their foundation. Their belief is simple: people experiencing poverty are often best placed to decide what they need most.

The Lagos State Police Command has detained a man for allegedly impersonating a Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officer.

The command detained the man also for allegedly orchestrating a N1.8 million shipment scam by claiming he could clear goods purportedly sent from the United States (U.S.).

It was gathered that the suspect allegedly deceived the complainant into paying N520,000 as part payment for the purported clearing and delivery charges before becoming unreachable.

The suspect was tracked down and arrested following an investigation into allegations of obtaining money by false pretence, impersonation and stealing.

The investigation was launched after the victim filed a petition with the police.

Following the report, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Tijani, directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, to intensify investigation to ensure a thorough probe of the case.

A police source told NAN on Saturday that the case began on July 15 when the suspect contacted the complainant, claiming that his goods shipped from the U.S. had arrived in Nigeria.

“To make the claim appear genuine, the suspect forwarded a purported shipping label and a tracking number before demanding N1.8 million as delivery and clearing charges for the consignment.

“Believing the representation to be genuine, the complainant agreed to pay the amount and made an initial payment of N520,000, with the balance to be paid upon delivery of the goods.

“The suspect became unreachable immediately after receiving the part payment and stopped responding to the complainant’s telephone calls,” he said.

The source said that further investigation revealed that the suspect also falsely presented himself as a clearing agent to give credibility to the scheme.

He said that a purported NCS identity card bearing the suspect’s name, along with another identification card portraying him as a superintendent, was recovered.

“The items were allegedly used to impersonate public officials and facilitate the fraud, ” he said.

The police said that the suspect was lured to the location to collect the outstanding balance of the money.

‘’He was arrested on arrival at the agreed meeting point by detectives who had laid an ambush, ‘’ the source said.

He said that the investigation into the allegations was being handled by the Anti-Robbery Unit of the SCID, Yaba.

This, he said, was under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the department, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin.

According to him, investigations are ongoing to determine whether the suspect has defrauded other victims using a similar method.

He said that the suspect would be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigations.

NAN