Category Nigeria News

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has stated his intention to mobilise significant government funds in response to the recent deadly armed banditry attacks in the southern region of the state. If the bandits’ activities continue, they will help save the lives and economic fortunes.

The governor also disclosed that he had the necessary contacts with President Bola Tinubu to make some critical suggestions and requests for possible solutions to reducing or eliminating the threat in Kebbi State.

Following a deadly armed banditry attack in Tadurga town of Zuru local government, Major-General Muhammadu Sani Sami Gomo II, the emir of the country, arrived at the state capital and addressed a high-powered delegation from the four local governments of the country.

Read more about Governors, Defense Minister, and NSA meeting amid security challenges.

He reaffirmed his conviction that any responsible government should prioritize ensuring relative peace, protection of life, and property.

The governor argued that making a wise use of resources for security and genuine sacrifice were worthwhile endeavors.

Even if it means dumping the state treasury, Idris said, “I will do whatever is humanly possible to protect the lives of the people.”

He stated that “these are parts of the requests to be presented to Mr. for consideration,” pointing out that the state’s persistent attacks were caused by inadequate manpower, insufficient sophisticated weapons, a limited number of special military units, and the complicated nature of Kebbi State’s geographical terrain.

The state, in his opinion, has border crossings with the neighboring states of Zamfara, Sokoto, and Niger, both of which are generally thought to be the most affected.

Prior to the governor’s statement, the governor was informed by the emir of Zuru, Major-General Muhammadu Sani Sami Gomo II, that the weekend banditry attacks in Tadurga had claimed dozens of lives and valuable properties that have not been recovered.

The royal father warned that unless urgent measures are taken, the major cities of the emirate will soon experience an uncontrollable congestion of displaced people because the purpose of the visit included expressing gratitude and appreciation for the numerous developmental projects being carried out in the emirate.

Dr. Bosun Tijani, the country’s first leader in nearly 50 years, has been elected vice chairman of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council for 2025.

According to some, Dr. Tijani’s victory, supported by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, demonstrates Nigeria’s growing influence in shaping global digital policy.

The ITU Council is responsible for overseeing initiatives involving connectivity, cybersecurity, and digital inclusion. It also plays a significant role in the direction of the UN’s specialized agency for ICTs.

Dr. Tijani praised the ITU member states for their trust in describing his appointment as “a profound honour” in response to the announcement.

He stated, “I look forward to working closely with Council Chair Ms. Cristiana Flutur and other members to advance our shared goal of inclusive digital development.”

He noted that Nigeria’s participation is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s national priorities, including improving digital skills, boosting internet access, and establishing secure public digital infrastructure.

Dr. Tijani added that, in order to ensure that innovation benefits everyone, regardless of income or geography, he will use the position to promote global collaboration on resilient infrastructure, digital literacy, and equitable access.

The Anchors Borrowers Programme (ABP) expenditures totaled $1. 11 trillion, according to the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security.

The committee is also looking into the NIRSAL Microfinance Bank’s $ 215 billion investment in agro-businesses as well as the Bank of Industry’s $ 3 billion grant to 22, 120 smallholder farmers through the agriculture value chain financing program.

During an investigation hearing on the alleged misuse of government interventions and agricultural funding by federal government departments, agencies, schemes, and programs, the committee’s chairman, Chike Okafor, expressed concern that of the 24 participating financial institutions (PFIs), only nine of the institutions had evidence to support their claims.

Read more about CBN’s affirmation of the strength of the Nigerian banking sector.

He claimed that one of the committee’s main oversight responsibilities is to ensure the effective implementation of government intervention programs in the areas of food security and nutrition.

He continued, “We are looking into how the Central Bank of Nigeria distributed about 1.1 trillion to 4.67 million farmers who work in maize, rice, or wheat through 563 anchors.

We are aware that you have about 24 participating financial institutions (PFIs) through which to distribute these astronomical sums, The CBN should take note. You have written to 24 of them, which is unusual, but we only have nine of them, as I am aware of. So, take note. Additionally, some of those PFIs have attempted to contact them.

Second, we are looking into how the Bank of Industry, along with NIRSAL, has already disbursed N215, 066, 982, and 074.50 to 22 smallholder farmers through the agriculture value chain financing program.

“One of the Committee on Nutrition and Food Security’s key oversight mandates is to ensure the proper execution of intervention programs by relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and government agencies in the fields of food security and nutrition.” Including investigations into nutrition and food security, monitoring of resource allocation, the development of new laws, and strengthening existing ones, among others.

According to the House’s standing order, “These are fully enshrined in the committee’s jurisdiction.” Please take note that the current administration‘s renewed hope agenda included nutrition and food security as two unrelated issues that cannot be separated.

The establishment of this committee on nutrition and food security is a legislative move to address these issues and promote the development of a food-secured and nourished populace in Nigeria, he added.

Insecurity, according to a NIRSAL Microfinance Bank representative, poses a significant risk to the successful operation of their loan program.

He claimed that they carefully considered laid-down guidelines when determining who was qualified to receive the intervention.

According to Bassey, “We distributed these funds based on those guidelines.” Insecurity challenges are some of the issues they have covered in their writings. A few of them had complained that because of the banditry and herdsmen’s experience, they were unable to return to the farms after investing in agricultural business.

And these prevented them from extending their harvesting and seasonal interventions. Some cited other factors that affected them, such as flooding and drought. A few of them, according to Bonney, actually requested that the loan facility be restructured so they could pay their balances on time.

Sterling Bank, Olushola Obikanye, the group head of Agric Finance and Solid Minerals, reported that they had repatriated 113, 490, 756, and 332.54 to the CBN and were not due under the scheme.

The total funds returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria are therefore the sum of both the returned und returned funds that were disbursed. The total funds repatriated to the central bank stood at ₦113, 490, 756, 332.54. And Sterling Bank is still due under this scheme an outstanding sum of zero naira and zero kobo, he said.

Senator David Umahi, the minister of works, has announced that Levant Construction Ltd.’s contract on the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road project has been terminated due to what he has called “non-performance and failure to remobilize to site despite repeated warnings.”

According to Umahi, at a meeting held on June 17th, 2025, Levant failed to fulfill the requirements for Section I of the road (Benin–Imasabor), which was a project funded by the Ministry of Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

There are three sections, they say. Unfortunately, Levant has not lived up to its reputation. Even the governor of Edo State was required to intervene and demand intervention. One part was requested by Levant, but they left the site.

They continued to ignore the warnings and final termination notice that were issued after several warnings. We now have instructed the Permanent Secretary to finalize the termination and begin a joint evaluation with them, he said.

He also issued a warning that the issue would be escalated to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if Levant’s bank failed to notify Levant of the start of the Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) repayment process and that any non-compliance would result in an escalating issue.

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The Minister applauded SKECC Nigeria Ltd and Geld Construction Ltd’s efforts, which have both agreed to resume work on their respective sections of the road, despite the setback.

He also praised the project’s support and participation by the governors of the Edo and Delta States.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his team made a commitment to concrete reinforcement of 10 kilometers after the beautiful flyovers. Edo State governor Monday Okpebholo is also making significant efforts. “We’re appreciative,” said Umahi.

The Minister noted that SKECC’s NNPC budget allocation had been exhausted while urging the company to finish its milled section while making a comment about challenges with project funding. Additionally, Grid Construction has agreed to return to the site, including the 34-kilometer Itoki-Ikorodu road and the Lokoja–Abuja road, with the promise of revised rates.

No marginalization

Umahi responded to recent accusations of marginalization of the North in road development as “absolutely unfounded, malicious, and uncharitable.”

We don’t care where people come from or where projects are located in this ministry. Mr. President has continued all inherited projects, regardless of location, as evidenced by his leadership.

According to Umahi, according to the figures, the Niger State alone accounts for 26% of NNPC Tax Credit projects, compared to 4% of NNPC Tax Credit projects in the South-West and 4% in the South-East.

Under the Renewed Hope administration, significant attention has been given to the projects in the North, such as the 525 billion Abuja-Kano highway and the 825 billion Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina-Kaduna road.

He added, “The North has 52% and the South has 48% when you look at the President’s four legacy projects. Thus, the claim that one region is being favored over another is completely false.

Umahi explained that progress had been made, including the completion of one carriageway, four flyover construction, and the ongoing Aleto Bridge, despite the much-criticism surrounding the Eleme-Onne axis of the East-West Road.

In light of the growing concern over the violence that has caused the state’s loss of lives and property, President Bola Tinubu will travel to Benue State on Wednesday.

Following the recent attack, which left at least 59 residents dead and hundreds of people displaced in the Yelwata community in the Guma Local Government Area on Friday.

The President said he would change his schedule to visit the state on Wednesday while empathizing with the people of Benue at the opening of the Greater Abuja Water Supply Network on Monday.

I’ll Change My Schedule To Visit Benue People On Wednesday — Tinubu, Read More:

President Tinubu has already dispatched the Inspector General of Police, the heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Advisor, and the chairmen of the Senate and House Defense Committees to Benue State, according to a statement released on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Tinubu is scheduled to hold a town hall meeting with stakeholders while he is in Benue.

Youth protests in Yelwata sparked a demand for an end to the violence that resulted from the killings.

Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for president in 2023, and Peter Obi, his counterpart in the Labour Party, who urged the President to take immediate action to stop the killings, also received criticism for it.

Pope Leo XIV, the Catholic pontiff, called for peace on Sunday after praising what he termed a “massacre.”

General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, met with stakeholders in Benue on Tuesday and demanded cooperation to stop the state’s recent wave of killings.

The Armed Forces support you, Musa declared. What is happening causes us pain. It’s a personal decision for me. When our armed forces are executing people, I don’t want to be their chief of defense. No.

We have visited Liberia, Sierra Leone, other nations, and brought peace, they say. Why not in our own nation?
No member of the armed forces is going to oppose one, I can assure you of that. We’re prepared to pursue a person if we notice one.

The Benue State Government has declared a state-wide public holiday in anticipation of the visit.