NIGERIAN NOTCH

The foreign Direct Investment (FDI) drive of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration has yielded about N30 billion in investment commitment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment has disclosed. The Minister made the disclosure while reeling out achievements recorded so far, within the administration of President Bola, through her ministry, at the second edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing organized by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Abuja. Dr. Uzoka-Anite said even though the investments came in form of commitment, the FDIs have started flowing as actual buildings had already started, stressing that some the investments would come in form of equipment and other means. “For us in investment, when you say commitment, it means that you have committed to bring that money or a promise. So this is a commitment so the money and investment, the proposal everything is done. They have already started building and they

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has called on the Government of Saudi Arabia to assist Nigeria in the fight against insurgency and trans-border terrorism, through sharing of intelligence, assuring that Nigeria intelligence community is ever ready to cooperate with them. Akpabio made the call while receiving in courtesy, members of the Saudi Arabia/ Nigeria Parliamentary Friendship Group, led by Dr Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Salamah, in his office on Thursday.  A release by the Special Assistant On Media to the Senate President, Mr Jackson Udom, quoted him as saying, " let me welcome you to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are very delighted to receive you here. Nigeria as a country, has a very strong diplomatic relationship with Saudi Arabia since 1961." "Nigeria as a country needs a lot of assistance from the Saudi Arabian Government in the area of security. We can only overcome insecurity and trans-border terrorism through sharing of i

President Bola Tinubu and state governors, yesterday, agreed to establish state police in the country as part of measures to check the rising wave of insecurity in the country. This was one of the six high points of an emergency meeting summoned by the President at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday, in view of economic hardship in the country and upsurge of insecurity in different parts of the country. The emergency meeting also had in attendance Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Nyesom Wike. Specifically, President Tinubu approved the establishment of a committee comprising state governors and representatives of the Federal Government to, among other things, explore modalities for establishing state police. The President and the state governors also discussed the possibility of improving the numerical strength of forest rangers to train them so that they can keep our forests and borders ve

The Senate has commenced the review of the Nigerian consitution. This is so, because of the granting of local government autonomy, electoral reform and state creation which are now in the front burner of the Nigerian Senate as it commenced the review of the 1999 constitution. It's however on record that the last Assembly failed to address these issues in the last amendment but hopes are now high on the 10th assembly to correct the wrongs. Despite the last attempts for the fifth alteration of the 1999 constitution, issues of local government autonomy, election irregularities and creation of more states are some of the issues the Senate under Godswill Akpabio will be looking at. Even though Nigerians, groups and associations would be required to bring a memorandum, the Senate has constituted a 43-member committee for constitution amendment by the 10th National Assembly. Senate President Godswill Akpabio picked a senator from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital T

The House of Representatives has taken a major step towards replacing the current presidential system of government being run in Nigeria with the parliamentary mode. This is as the House introduced three bills seeking to alter the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to transition from the current presidential system to a parliamentary system at all levels – federal, state and local government. The bills, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024, HB.1115, HB.1116 and HB.1117, sponsored by the Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda,  and 59 others, passed first reading at plenary yesterday. The proposed legislation seeks to replace the president with a prime minister to serve as the head of government and establish the office of the president as a ceremonial leader with the elective offices chosen from elected members of the legislature. It also intends to shift the process of electing governors and chairmen of local govern

... Get Supports From Governors  BY  RAYMOND OZOJI  The Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) says massive recruitments and  deployments of hunters in the North-East region of the country have helped tremendously to battle as well as reduce forest crimes in the region.  Speaking exclusively with this journalist on Wednesday, the Zonal Commander North-East zone, ACG Haruna Umaru Hammanjoda Furo, said hunters now battle criminal elements which he described as bigger animals in the forests.  He said over 50,000 hunters now ensured that the 6 states in the Northeast region were protected from insurgents who committed crimes and ran into the bushes and forests for cover. That hunters have ensured that Bauchi, Bornu, Adamawa and other states in the region have forests devoid of kidnappers'den, armed-robbery gangs and other daredevils.  The North-East ACG of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) who disclosed that about 400 hunters were recent

The Rivers Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has lauded Gov. Siminalayi Fubara for approving the immediate promotion of Local Government workers with full financial benefits. The state President of the union, Clifford Paul, made the commendation in a statement issued in Port Harcourt and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday. Paul stated that Fubara announced the approval during his meeting with NULGE leadership and principal officers of the Local Government Councils at the Government House, Port Harcourt. He noted that the governor also approved the immediate implementation of N30,000 minimum wage for Local Government workers. “The governor also approved the immediate implementation of the N35,000 wage award approved by the Federal Government to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy in the country. “We commend the governor for the inclusion of NULGE in the Local Government Pensions Board, as provided by

The International Labour Organisation, ILO, Save the Children and United Nations International Children Fund, UNICEF, have said 1.4 billion children globally, aged under 16, lack social protection. They are therefore vulnerable to disease, poor nutrition and poverty, according to new data released Wednesday by the three bodies. According to the data, in low-income countries fewer than 1-in-10 children have access to child benefits, highlighting a significant disparity compared to the coverage enjoyed by children in high-income countries. Child benefits are a critical form of social protection, intended to promote the long-term well-being of children. Delivered as cash or tax credits, child benefits are essential for reducing poverty as well as accessing healthcare, nutrition, quality education, water and sanitation. In addition, these benefits support socio-economic development, particularly in times of crisis. Many children are deprived of the basic resources and services

The Progressive Governors’ Forum has advised their counterparts in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against utterances and actions capable of inciting the masses against the federal government. In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State,Senator Hope Uzodinma said the economic and security challenges confronting the nation needed a collaborative approach towards finding lasting solutions to them,and not finger pointing. Reacting to the press briefing by PDP Governors on Monday where they likened Nigeria to another Venezuela, Uzodinma said it was unpatriotic for those in leadership positions to play the ostrich when they were fully aware of what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was doing to reverse the situation. According to him, while the PDP had catalogued what they perceived to be the economic problem of the country, they could not proffer a single solution to it. Uzodimma said, “Ultimately, the decision res

Operatives of the Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  on Tuesday arrested two suspected money racketeers,  Adigun Johnson,  an Ordinary National Diploma,  OND, graduate of Public Administration and James Friday, an artisan  at a nightclub in Wuse Area of Abuja. The suspects were arrested with the sum of N3, 480,000.00  in their possession and three Point of Sale POS machines which they allegedly used to carry out their activities. A statement by EFCC Spokesman Dele Oyewale, said the arrest followed surveillance and intelligence by operatives of the EFCC on currency abuse and mutilation. Oyewale said that the  suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.