Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Federal Executive Council on Monday approved the application for a $3.45bn loan to finance five items. They include projects in the power sector, renewable energy, states’ resource mobilisation programme, adolescent girls’ initiative for learning and empowerment and a women’s empowerment project. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, told State House Correspondents that the FG would proceed to receive the $3.5bn “zero-interest” loan payable within 40 years with a 10-year moratorium, meaning payments would begin from 2033. Edun explained, “Today at the Federal Executive Council, I presented five memos which were gracefully approved by the…

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, has said for development to occur in any society, the people must have access to proper health care to stay fit and healthy to operate. Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the flag-off ceremony of the NYSC Special Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD), he said it was unfortunate that most people in the rural areas lacked access to proper health care. Represented by the Director, Ventures Department of the scheme, Prince Mohammed Momoh, he said the health initiative was brought to the doorstep of the people so that they…

Ondo State house of assembly has kickstarted a fresh process to Impeach the Deputy Governor of the state Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Recall that the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, had constituted a high-powered panel to resolve issues between Aiyedatiwa, the State Assembly, and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. But in a letter signed by the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, the House said the impeachment process resumed after the expiration of the ex parte order of the Federal High Court. The letter bears the title, ‘Request to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, following…

Legislative workers under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) have resolved to shut down the National and State Assemblies across the 36 States of the federation on Wednesday. According to them, their decision to embark on a nationwide strike is because the government has refused to meet its financial autonomy demands. The development was contained in separate letters sent to the Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum; Chairman, Forum of Speakers and the Department of State Services (DSS), and signed by acting Secretary General of PASAN, Agugbue Ugochi Happiness. It would be recalled the group had earlier issued…

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde signed two executive orders on Monday one of which was to protect mining communities in the state against insecurity and exploitation. Makinde also signed another executive order for the establishment of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. In his remarks, the Governor said the purpose for signing these was to provide legal backing to the efforts of his administration in the solid mineral and tourism sectors. He said the two executive orders came against the backdrop of his administration’s decision to drive its economic expansion agenda through tourism development and solid mineral development. The…

Katsina State Government, on Monday, said it has concluded plans to introduce special allowances to Friday Mosques clerics, their deputies, Mua’dhins (callers of prayer) and Ward Heads to encourage them in the fight against insecurity. The state governor, Dikko Radda, who revealed this after inaugurating the Steering Committees for the Katsina Community Watch Corps, KCSWC, however, did not mention Christian clerics in the planned allowance. A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr Ibrahim Kaula-Mohammed, quoted the governor saying that the committee would collaborate with other security personnel to seek out bandits across the state. According to him, members…

Erik ten Hag admits emotions will be riding high when Manchester United walk out at Old Trafford for the first time since Sir Bobby Charlton’s passing. The Red Devils host FC Copenhagen in a crucial Champions League encounter tomorrow night, having taken no points from their first two group games. And having seen his side beat Sheffield United at Bramall Lane just hours after the news of Charlton’s death broke, the Dutchman hopes his players can pay a fitting tribute to the club legend on home turf. Ten Hag said: “Firstly we want to win and pay tribute to Sir…

As part of efforts to boost the territory’s revenue profile, Minister of FCT, Wike, has ordered the enforcement of the Personal Income Tax and the FCT Internal Revenue Service Acts 2015. Wike order “No Tax Clearance Certificate, no transaction” to FCT Residents and organizations. Mandate Secretary, FCT Economic Planning, Revenue Generation, and Public Private Partnerships Secretariat, Chinedum Elechi, at a news conference Monday in Abuja said the minister approved the implementation of Section 85 of Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) and Section 31 of the FCT Internal Revenue Service Act, 2015. According to him, anyone who provides false information or obtains…

The Nigeria Immigration Service  (NIS), Kwara Command, on Monday, said 3,000 international passports were awaiting collection by applicants in its office. Alhaji Baba Aliyu, the outgoing Comptroller of Passports in the command, disclosed this in Ilorin on the sidelines of a retirement party in his honour. Aliyu urged the federal government to initiate sanctions on such individuals, adding that a number of the applicants could not be contacted on phone numbers provided on their applications. “We usually send SMS through the contact address and phone numbers provided by the applicants but some messages didn’t go through due to the fact…

The Zamfara State Government has released some documents indicting the administration of the immediate past Governor of the State, Bello Matawalle, in relation to the Gusau International Airport project. In a statement issued in Gusau on Sunday, October 21, 2023, the Spokesperson to Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said that the response by Matawalle exposed a “blatant violation of trust, opening a pandora’s box.” According to him, the bad financial situation the current administration met in Zamfara State was caused by Matawalle. Idris alleged that Matawalle directed the Ministry of Local Government to withdraw ₦1 billion from the Local Government Joint…

Justice Robin Knowles of the Commercial Courts of England and Wales has ruled in favour of Nigeria and quashed the enforcement of the $11 billion arbitration award in favour of Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) Ltd. The judge, in a ruling delivered by email on Monday, upheld Nigeria’s prayer on the ground that the ill-fated gas processing contract was obtained by fraud. Recall that P&ID had entered into an agreement with Nigeria in 2010 to build a gas processing plant in Calabar, Cross River state, but the company said the deal collapsed because the Nigerian government did not fulfil its…

Arsenal remain interested in trying to sign Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa following his excellent start to the 2023/24 season, according to 90min. The Gunners would like to add another midfielder to their ranks during the January transfer window and are looking at options across both Europe and South America. They like the look of Fluminense’s Andre – a key target for Liverpool – while they have been scouting Feyenoord’s Quinten Timber and Valencia’s Javi Guerra in recent months. An enquiry has also been made to Royal Antwerp regarding Arthur Vermeeren, who has drawn comparisons with Sergio Busquets and is wanted by Barcelona. Closer to home, Arsenal have long been…