Category Nigeria News

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has approved the immediate release of ₦5.8 billion for the settlement of all outstanding gratuity liabilities owed to retired state public officers.

READ ALSO: Gov Buni Approves CONUASS, CONTISS II Salary For Yobe Varsity Staff

“This significant milestone underscores the administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of its dedicated civil servants who have served the state meritoriously,” a statement by the Commissioner of Finance, Mohammed Geidam, partly read.

The statement added that the governor has further directed that, going forward, the payment of gratuities must be integrated into the state’s monthly financial schedule.

“This means that cleared gratuity payments will be made monthly, alongside the regular pension payments, ensuring that no future backlog of retirement benefits is allowed to accumulate,” the commissioner said.

Financial Relief

Geidam added that the approval of ₦5.8 billion is a “clear demonstration of Governor Buni’s compassionate leadership and his administration’s deep appreciation for the years of service rendered by Yobe’s retirees”.

“By clearing this substantial backlog and institutionalising a prompt, monthly payment system, the governor has provided much-needed financial relief and restored dignity to our senior citizens,” he added.

The statement emphasised that the Ministry of Finance and the office of the Head of Service are working collaboratively to ensure the seamless and transparent disbursement of these funds to all affected retirees immediately.

The founding National Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy, Udenta Udenta, has criticised the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on Wednesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, Udenta, a professor, described the move as a desecration of public trust.

READ ALSO: PDP Disappointed By Gov Mbah’s Defection — Debo Ologunagba

He said political mandates belong to political parties and not individuals, stressing that Governor Mbah’s defection undermined the sanctity of democratic representation.

“Individuals are anonymous; mandates are given to political parties, not to individuals. Individuals, as important as they are, are very small players in this game of power because the party is the symbol of power.

“The people in their millions troop out to vote for a party, so Peter Mbah did not win the elections; the PDP won the election in Enugu State.

“He just held on to the trust for the people, and that trust was desacralised yesterday [Tuesday] because it was almost an abominable act,” he stated.

Udenta described the governor’s action as not just a political misstep but also a moral and cultural failing, saying the South-East must reflect on the implications of such political conduct.

“People gave you a mandate in their millions and you say, ‘I have a broom somewhere,’” he said.

“In conversing on this matter, people should be very careful about the kind of democratic tradition and culture we are building. Yesterday was not a political surrender for the South-East; it was a cultural surrender because you must understand that there are some moral boundaries you don’t cross in politics.

“We have crossed several, and the media has a role to play,” the professor added.

He, therefore, cautioned against what he called the normalisation of unethical political behaviour, noting that while certain constitutional provisions might not make defections illegal, they still reflect “clearly unsavory and unethical conduct” among the political class.

“You can’t build an inclusive model of party democracy when people see, maybe not illegal but clearly unethical conduct on the part of the political class,” he added.

The professor’s comments followed Governor Mbah’s official defection to the APC during a statewide broadcast on Tuesday.

“There comes always a time when everyone must make a bold choice to determine their destiny.

“Today, after a long reflection, we have made a decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress,” Mbah had stated during the broadcast.

The Kano State Government has announced that preparations are in top gear to host the 11th edition of the World Nutritious Food Fair, an annual event that brings together key players in Nigeria’s nutrition and food security sectors.

The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Musa Shanono, disclosed this during a press briefing in Kano on Monday. He revealed that the fair will attract over 100 commercial exhibitors and more than 2,000 participants, including government officials, policymakers, researchers, and private sector stakeholders.

“This event serves as a strategic platform for collective engagement, learning, and networking among stakeholders in Nigeria’s nutritious food sector,” Shanono said. “We are proud that Kano has been chosen once again as the host, as it reflects our government’s ongoing commitment to addressing food and nutrition security.”

According to the Commissioner, the Nutritious Food Fair is not just an exhibition but a vital opportunity to tackle pressing challenges in the sector, such as malnutrition, food processing inefficiencies, and policy gaps.

“The fair brings together a wide range of actors—from farmers and food processors to academics and development partners—to showcase innovations, share knowledge, and discuss emerging issues that affect nutrition in Nigeria,” he added.

Shanono emphasized that the event aligns with the state’s broader development agenda, particularly its focus on improving public health outcomes through better nutrition.

“We are expecting groundbreaking conversations and collaborations that can lead to scalable solutions, particularly in addressing the burden of malnutrition, which continues to affect millions across the country,” he said.

The Commissioner also urged local businesses and agricultural entrepreneurs in the state to take advantage of the opportunity to network and learn from national and international participants.

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have foiled a planned kidnapping and armed attack at Byazhin Forest, Abuja.

The police disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday by the FCT Police Command, Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh.

The force said the operation, conducted on October 10, led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and thirty rounds of live ammunition.

The operation followed credible intelligence from the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) of the Force Headquarters.

The intelligence revealed that a notorious bandit leader, identified as Idrisa, also known as “Mai Duna,” planned coordinated attacks on villages around Byazhin Forest.

Acting swiftly, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit deployed tactical teams and mounted an ambush along the identified routes of the suspects, the force said.

READ ALSO: Lagos Re-Arraigns Evans For Alleged Murder Of Two Policemen

According to the police, at about 1:00 a.m. on October 11, operatives sighted two groups of heavily armed bandits advancing towards the area, and they engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle that lasted about twenty minutes.

The police said, despite strong resistance, they overpowered the criminals, forcing them to retreat into the forest with gunshot wounds, adding that reinforcement teams from nearby Police and Military formations immediately joined the operation.

According to the force, the joint effort secured the area and blocked all possible escape routes. A thorough search of the scene led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with a defaced serial number, one magazine, and thirty live 7.6mm rounds.

The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ajao Adewale, commended the officers for their bravery and professionalism during the operation. He noted that their prompt response prevented a major security breach within the Federal Capital Territory.

Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, on Tuesday signed into law the 2025 Supplementary Budget of ₦137 billion, following its passage by the State House of Assembly.

The supplementary budget allocates ₦126.8 billion to capital expenditure and ₦10.2 billion to recurrent expenditure. It is aimed at sustaining the administration’s aggressive infrastructure drive and completing ongoing projects across the state.

Speaking after signing the bill, Governor Radda commended the House of Assembly for the swift passage of the budget.

He explained that the supplementary appropriation became necessary following requests from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies that had exhausted their capital allocations due to the volume of ongoing projects.

READ ALSO: [Niger Delta] FG Embarks On 536 Projects, Host Community Fund Hits ₦373b — NUPRC

Radda said the bulk of the funds would go towards completing infrastructure projects, including roads, healthcare facilities, schools, water supply systems, and agricultural programmes.

He assured citizens that the supplementary budget would be implemented with transparency and accountability, consistent with his administration’s financial management principles.

“I commend the Honourable Speaker, Nasir Daura, and all members of the Katsina State House of Assembly for their swift legislative action on this critical bill. Your commitment to the development of our state is truly commendable,” Radda stated.

During plenary, the House Leader, Shamsuddeen Dabai, praised Governor Radda as one of Nigeria’s best-performing governors, noting that the supplementary estimates came at a crucial time, considering the volume of ongoing and completed projects.

Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria’s energy transition plan under President Bola Tinubu will unlock over $410 billion in renewable energy investments between 2025 and 2060.

Shettima made this known on Tuesday in Abuja while declaring open the inaugural Nigerian Renewable Energy Innovation Forum (NREIF) 2025.

He said the initiative would position Nigeria and Africa as key players in the global race towards net-zero emissions.

According to him, more than $23 billion will be required to expand energy access and connect millions still living in energy poverty.

“We are blessed with the minerals that power clean technologies, and Nigeria brings youth, ambition, and untapped renewable potential,” the Vice President said.

READ ALSO: Governor Radda Signs N137b Supplementary Budget Into Law

He called on stakeholders to seize the moment and affirm Nigeria’s readiness to harness its resources and lead Africa’s renewable energy revolution.

“Beyond access lies our grander ambition, to deliver a power system capable of 277 gigawatts by 2060. This ambition demands investment, innovation, and local capacity,” he added.

Shettima revealed that over $400 million in new investment commitments had already been mobilised into Nigeria’s renewable energy manufacturing value chain.

He said the investments cover solar panels, smart meters, battery storage, and recycling facilities, creating over 1,500 direct jobs across multiple states.

“These investments reflect growing global confidence in Nigeria’s clean energy industrialisation drive,” he said.

The Vice President assured investors and development partners of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening policy frameworks that support a self-sustaining renewable market.

“We are enhancing incentives for local manufacturing, streamlining regulations, and deepening collaboration with State Governments and investors,” he noted.

He also urged the private sector and Original Equipment Manufacturers to localise technologies and invest in skills and knowledge transfer.

“We count on State Governments to champion renewable industrial clusters and drive green growth across the federation,” he added.

Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu described the NREIF as a milestone in Nigeria’s energy transformation journey and a step towards expanding local solar production capacity.

He said the Integrated National Electricity Policy aims to strengthen the decentralisation and efficiency of the sector.

The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, represented by UN Resident Coordinator Mohammed Malick Fall, said the forum aligns with global ambitions for renewable energy development.

He pledged the UN’s support for Nigeria’s drive to power homes, schools, and communities sustainably.