Development
House concurs with Senate, approves $6.183 billion external loan request
The House of Representatives has approved the federal government’s request for $6.183 billion (N2.343 trillion) as external borrowing in 2021 Appropriation Act. The approval followed the consideration and adoption of clauses in the report presented by the committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, chaired by Hon. Ahmed Dayyabu Safana. The House also gave approval for the bill seeking to establish a Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) to conduct and coordinate robust research and development in the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The approval was sequel to the consideration and adoption of the 5 parts and 34 Sections of the Bill’s report, presented by Chairman House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson. Presenting the report, Benson said the objective of the Bureau was to condu...
Yobe governor: No plan to retrench workers
Gov. Mai Mala-Buni of Yobe on Tuesday said his administration has no plan to retrench civil servants in spite of the state’s meagre resources. Mala-Buni gave the assurance in Damaturu on the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed permanent secretaries and board members. He said he would continue to attract investments to Yobe from both state and non-state actors in order to meet the financial obligations of the state. “People accuse me of frequenting Abuja; the truth is, if I remain in Damaturu, we cannot pay even our salary bills. “And that means we will have to join the league of states that are retrenching workers; we don’t have such plan. “You are aware of the projects we started, including the four modern markets we are building, the ongoing 3,600 houses, the over 87...
Gunmen abduct passengers in Osun
Three days after rumours of an attack by criminal herdsmen forced parents to hastily withdraw their wards from schools in Osogbo, Osun State capital, gunmen have abducted yet to be specified number of persons in Obokun Local Government Area, LGA of the State. The sad event occurred on Monday afternoon when a commercial bus conveying the passengers was halted at close to Imesi Ile area of the state. The Nation reports that the commercial vehicle from Ekiti was going toward Ikirun through Ila road when the gunmen waylaid it at Odo-Osun and took passengers to a nearby bush. A security source said the gunmen shot severally to force the vehicle to stop before all the passengers were whisked away. Another source said volunteers of Kiriji Heritage Defenders, Hunter’s group and the police were com...
Nigerian government set to tackle oil, gas infrastructure vandalism with skills acquisition
The Federal Government has expressed plans to create a reorientation programme aimed at engaging the youth in skills acquisition to address oil and gas infrastructure vandalism. The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, stated this at a Town Hall Meeting on “Protecting Oil and Gas Infrastructure” on Monday in Abuja. Newsmen report that the town hall meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. Akpabio said that the programme would be targeted at the pupils and students of primary and secondary school across the nine states in Niger Delta. He explained that the Federal Government was currently meeting with stakeholders, traditional rulers, youth groups and all others from one state to the other. “We are setting up skills acquisition centres, we...
NiDCOM, Swiss embassy partner on diaspora re-integration
The Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has called for close collaboration with the Swiss Embassy for diaspora re-integration. The chairman of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, made the call in a statement by Gabriel Odu, Media, Public Relations and Protocols Officer of the commission in Abuja on Monday. Dabiri-Erewa was speaking with the Switzerland Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Georg Steiner, at an interactive session on Diaspora Reintegration, Diaspora Data Mapping and Capacity Building. She said that with the establishment of NiDCOM and ratification of the National Diaspora Policy by the Federal Executive Council, Nigerians in the Diaspora now had a one-stop agency to latch on for mutually beneficial engagement, encouragement and enablement for overall national development...
UNN vice chancellor: Coronavirus pandemic most global challenge since World War II
Prof. Charles Igwe, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has said that COVID-19 pandemic is arguably the most global challenge since world war II. Igwe said this in Nsukka on Monday during UNN 1st Annual International Conference titled: “A Whole New World; Research, Development and Innovation in the Pandemic Era.” He said that COVID-19 which has killed many people across the globe as well as infected many others has affected the economy, lives, people’s ways of living in virtually every country of the world. “COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious global challenge since the world war II the world has witnessed. “As this has affected the economy, people’s ways of life and behaviour of entire people of the world,” he said. He commended federal government on handling the ...
Ekiti governor urges Nigerians to rise up, defend democracy
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has called on Nigerians to rise to the defence of democracy in Nigeria with a view to advancing the development of the country. Mr Fayemi made the call Tuesday in Abuja when he visited the Canadian Ambassador to Nigeria, Nicolas Simard, at his residence. The visit by the NGF Chairman was part of the Chairman’s shuttle diplomacy to representatives of the diplomatic corps in Nigeria, which is one of the initiatives of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s secretariat towards engendering inter-governmental synergy between global governments at the subnational level. Mr Fayemi’s visits on Monday took him to the residence of the Canadian ambassador to Nigeria, and the embassy of the People’s Republic of China and...
PDP salutes Governor Obaseki at 64
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo State as he marks his 64th birthday. The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Thursday described Obaseki as a courageous leader. He also described him as a brilliant technocrat, highly resourceful and ingenious administrator. The party spokesman said that Obaseki had continued to exhibit an exceptional commitment towards the unity, stability and development of not only Edo State but the nation at large. Ologbondiyan said that the PDP was proud of the outstanding achievements recorded by Obaseki in the development of Edo State, particularly in the critical sectors, in line with the manifesto of the party. The sectors, according to him, include infrastructur...
Anthony Baffoe leaves role as Caf deputy general secretary
Anthony Baffoe has left his post as Confederation of African Football (CAF) Deputy General Secretary after almost four years at the helm. The former Ghana international, who was appointed in 2017, has been in charge of Football and Development at CAF. Baffoe said: “This was a decision I took three months ago due to personal reasons. The journey which started in November 2017 sadly ends, giving way to the start of a fresh journey. “I count myself lucky to have served CAF and being at the forefront of the administration of the game on the continent. Praise be to Almighty Allah. I am grateful to the CAF Executive Committee led by Patrice Motsepe for the opportunity, not forgetting former CAF President Ahmad Ahmad for seeing the potential in me at first hand.” He added: “I leave with my head h...
Minister asks NFF to call Super Eagles boss to order
The Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Football Federation to call Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, to order and ensure he performs his duties optimally. Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, who was surprised that Rohr was not present with the home-based Super Eagles team when he visited on Tuesday evening wondered why Rohr will discriminate the class of Nigerians to coach in the team. The minister said, “Gernot Rohr was employed by Nigerians, therefore, he should not discriminate against those he wants to coach. Both home-based and foreign-based players exhibit great talents and they all must be respected and treated well. “NFF must call him to order and ensure he abides by the contract he signed.” Prior to the commencement of Super team B camp ahea...
Zamfara governor dumps PDP for APC
Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Matawalle announced his defection to APC in Gusau on Tuesday at a special grand rally to receive him to the party, organised by the National Caretaker Committee of the APC led by Governor Mai-Mala Buni of Yobe. “As from today, I Bello Matawallen Maradun, governor of Zamfara, I am happy to announce my defection from the PDP to the APC. “As from today, I am a full APC member and leader of APC in Zamfara. “I am calling on all APC stakeholders in the state to join hands with me to build the party and move the state forward,” Matawalle said. Earlier, Buni had described Matawalle’s defection as a welcome development to the APC not only in Zamfara but in Nige...
Zamfara APGA chieftain defects to APC
The 2019 Governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Zamfara, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Abdullahi announced his defection alongside officials of APGA at the state, local governments, and 147 wards, on Tuesday in Gusau. The APGA chieftain said he left the party not because he was offended by anyone, but in order to contribute to the development of Zamfara and Nigeria at large. According to him, in his 19 years under the platform of APGA, he has held different positions at the state and national level, and until now, was Secretary of APGA Board of Trustees. “I have written to notify the APGA National Chairman of my membership denouncement and also thank the party for all the opportunities given to me to serve,” he adde...
