Category Nigeria News

Following the state’s House of Assembly being suspended, Governor Bola Tinubu has now officially submitted the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly for consideration.

The proposed budget totals 1.481 trillion in a letter addressed to Senator Goodwill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, with significant funding for revitalizing key industries.

The proposed funding for the health sector is 106 billion, including 5 billion for free malaria medications, while that amount is at the top of the list, which includes 324 billion for infrastructure.

75.6 billion will be allocated to the education sector, while 31.4 billion will be allocated to the development of agriculture.

READ MORE HERE: Demand Fubara’s Reinstatement, Rivers Women Rally In Port Harcourt Once More, and

With the intention of creating approximately 6, 000 new jobs, the budget, according to the proposal, focuses on strategic investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and agriculture.

President Tinubu requests an expedite review in a formal letter to the Senate.

The Senate’s Ad-hoc Committee on Emergency Rule receives instructions to review the proposal and submit a report back to the chamber as soon as possible.

Additionally, Tinubu contacted the House of Representatives to request the Rivers State budget’s approval, letting them know that the Supreme Court had rejected the 2025 budget presented by suspended governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Rule of emergency

President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state on March 18, 2025, following months of political tussles between Rivers State House of Assembly members who are close to the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

The President also announced the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all House of Assembly members for a full six-month period in a nationwide broadcast proclaiming the state of emergency.

Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) was chosen as the president’s administrator for the first six months.

According to Tinubu, who relyed on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to support his position, he can’t continue to observe the political deterioration in Rivers.

Civil society organizations and activists who have also called for their reinstatement have condemned the suspension of elected officials.

Since its declaration, there have also been protests against and for the emergency rule in Rivers State’s citizens, particularly women.

MNasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, praised the Federal Government’s plan to deploy 9, 000 kilometers of fiber optic network on Wednesday.

He praised Bosun Tijani, the minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, for doing a great job in his position, which he believes merits praise and recognition despite not being a fan of President Bola Tinubu’s administration as is well known.

El-Rufai expressed hope that the minister’s well-thought-out plans and strategies will be fully implemented for Nigerian benefit during his speech at the Arewa Tech Fest 2.0 in Katsina.

El-Rufai claims that Nigeria’s rapid communication network is the only way to unlock its full potential.

El-Rufai, who co-hosted the Arewa Tech Fest 2.0 that the Katsina State government hosted at the Continental Events Center, in Katsina, claimed the AI strategy was well thought out.

READ MORE:  FG Plans Investment in 70, 000 Telecom Towers.

Because he believed there was no one else on the planet, he said the challenge was getting it done as soon as possible.

“I want to give the minister my apologies for the work that has been done so far in the country’s best interest.

I want to thank the minister, but as you all know, I don’t like the president’s Bola Tinubu administration, and I think it’s important to acknowledge and commend him. My hope and prayer is that all of his wonderful ideas, strategies, and plans will be put into action to help Nigeria.

Without a quick communication network, this nation cannot fulfill its potential.

The Federal Government’s plan to deploy 9, 000 kilometers of fiber optics is a very commendable step. The challenge is to get the AI strategy put into use as soon as possible because “the world is waiting for no one,” El-Rufai said.

Bosun Tijani, the country’s minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, revealed at the event that the Federal Government is planning to invest in 70 000 telecommunications towers, with over 80% of those based in the northern region.

According to him, the goal is to close the current connectivity gap and make Nigeria the continent’s most inclusive digital economy without any marginalization.

He added that the Federal Government’s biggest investments in the digital space are still the 90, 000 kilometers of fiber optic network, which is designed to connect every corner of Nigeria.

His Ministry has focused on fundamental initiatives that can increase the national productivity, according to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

This tech festival today is more than just an event; it also sends a strong message to Katsina, the Arewa States, and that Arewa is prepared.

Therefore, I tell participants, especially the room’s innovators, that all you need to do is move to Lagos or Abuja, and that all you need is formation, both for yourself and for yourself.

Being born in Katsina or Kano gives the country a “smart advantage” rather than a disadvantage.

Femi Otedola, the president of First Holdco Plc, cited the Federal Government’s policies and the Central Bank’s economic reforms as the main drivers of his $ 320 billion personal investment in First Bank.

At First Holdco Plc’s 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Otedola made the remarks on Thursday.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bold and visionary leadership, which merits praise for advancing the difficult but necessary reforms in our economy, is at the heart of this journey, Otedola said.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu’s “heart and visionary leadership” and the bank’s strategy “deserve praise for championing the difficult but necessary reforms in our economy.”

He also praised Olayemi Cardoso, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for his “courageous and pragmatic” policy changes.

“I also commend Mr. Yemi Cardoso, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, for his tenacious and pragmatic policy changes. His actions give the financial system new life and inspire investors like me to invest in this nation for the long term.

This development comes after the bank’s initial 150 billion rights issue capital raising exercise in March is complete. The process generated subscriptions worth more than 25% than the initial target. First HoldCo made known its intentions for a second stage of a capital raising exercise, which would aim to target about 350 billion through private placement, despite no specific release date.

The billionaire stated at the AGM that the company’s strategy for repositioning was to start with acquiring a “significant” stake in 2021.

He noted that the purchase was made as he planned to leave the corporate world in the wake of Forte Oil Plc’s (former African Petroleum) sale in 2019.

The acquisition of additional shares and assuming a leadership position to consolidate these goals “made the intentional drive to rebuild and reposition First Bank stronger,” Otedola said.

The rebuilding of First Bank into a modern, well-run, and highly profitable institution was not a gamble; it was a deliberate, strategic decision. This does not end here.

By the time the next capital raise phase was over, I would have personally invested more than $ 320 billion in cash without taking a single Naira to borrow.

READ ALSO: Year-on-Year, Nigeria’s Foreign Debt Repayment Increases By 49%.

Otedola added that Cardoso’s actions gave investors confidence to invest long-term and strengthened the financial system.

“I must not forget to acknowledge the enormous contributions of the board of directors and the institution’s management, who have spearheaded this overall vision and worked tirelessly to make sure that it is realized,” he said.

Our valued 40 million+ customers have been our unwavering support for over 130 years, keeping us relevant and influential. They are very much appreciated.

My role as an activist shareholder is clear: stop unnecessary spending on private jets, unchecked executive luxuries, protect depositors’ funds, deliver strong returns to shareholders, and make a significant contribution to the society/environment we serve and operate in.

Following the success and oversubscription of its most recent offer, he declared his willingness to make more investments as the bank gears up for the bank’s next capital raise.

The state’s Ministry of Information, which was removed by the administration of his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been reinstated by governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Additionally, Professor Mohammed Sani-Bello, the governor’s new minister, has been appointé as the new commissioner of education, and Professor Abubakar Sani-Bello, the former director general of Nigeria’s energy commission, has been appointed.

Sambo was the president’s former energy adviser and former director general of the Nigerian Energy Commission.

Read more recently: Uba Sani claims that Poverty Is Fueling Insecurity in Northern Nigeria.

Ibraheem Musa, the governor’s chief press secretary, claimed Gloria Ibrahim had also been chosen as the commissioner for youth development. &nbsp,

The statement further stated that the redeployments and appointments were made right away.

Governor Uba Sani congratulates the nominees and says he anticipates Professor Sambo to reinvigorate the Kaduna State Education Ministry in order to accomplish his administration’s goals, which are aimed at enhancing teacher capacity, boosting the capacity of ICT, granting priority to girl-child education, and boosting security in schools. &nbsp,

Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has vehemently opposed plans to construct housing units for beggars and displaced people in Abuja, claiming that this strategy is inappropriate for the capital city.

Wike made the declaration at the National Assembly’s 2025 FCT Appropriation Bill defense session. Mariya Mahmoud, the FCT minister of state, and other top FCT administration officials accompanied him.

Before holding a closed-door meeting, the delegation first made an appearance before the House of Representatives Committee.

Senator Ali Ndume advised the FCT Administration to adopt a plan similar to that used in Kano decades ago as he expressed concern over the growing number of displaced people and beggars in Abuja during the deliberation.

The indigenes or the displaced people roaming Abuja, according to the report from Nigerians, driving or arresting them. According to Senator Ndume, what you need to do is what the Kano government did in the 1970s.

“If you know any Indians, and you have a camp where you can feed and train them, you can pick them off the street.”

READ ALSO: Beginning On Monday, Wike, We Will Start Picking Up Beggars In FCT.

Wike quickly refuted the suggestion, saying that the peculiarity of Abuja as the nation’s capital necessitates a different approach.

The Federal Capital Territory is located here. He claimed that the processes in the FCT will not be the same as those in Kano, Rivers, Sokoto, or Ondo.

“These people are not native Americans,” you say. It will be challenging for us to adhere to that kind of pattern in a city like the FCT, where all the international bodies are located.

He also cited the capital city’s unique security restrictions.

Understand, on security, that this is where the President, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Defense Headquarters are located. We are unable to overtake the FCT’s entire security architecture, Wike added.

The Minister went further and issued a warning to beggars by the side of the road, urging them to leave or face arrest by law enforcement. He previously issued an ultimatum to all concerned people to leave the streetsides on October 27, 2024, citing the rise of such individuals as a threat to urban security.

The Minister lamented the rising number of people loitering on the roadsides while halting the construction of an access road to Katampe’s newly commissioned Judges’ Quarters.

Peter Obi, a politician and former governor of Anambra State, has criticized the Federal Government for fabricating a N7 trillion budget fraud claim that BudgIT recently exposed.

The civic-tech organization that promotes budget accountability and transparency in Nigeria and other African nations announced on Tuesday that it had found 11, 122 projects totaling N6.93 trillion that the National Assembly had inserted into the national budget for 2025.

The figure, according to an 18-page report released by the organization on Tuesday, represents 12.5% of the N54.99 trillion budget, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law on February 28.

A thorough analysis of the BudgIT report revealed that 238 projects, totaling N2.29 trillion, were inserted into the budget without much or no justification.

Additionally, a budget that included 119 projects in the N1 billion and 94 projects in the N1.7 trillion range, totaling N641.38 billion, was indiscriminately inserted into the budget, according to the report.

Also read: Adebayo, an ex-SDP presidential candidate, says I won’t step down for Atiku in 2027.

In response to the report, Obi expressed his deep trouble and called Nigeria a “relentless scene of corruption.”

“Nigeria continues to be a corrupt country.” I have consistently argued that Nigeria must stop acting as a crime scene and be repositioned for real development in order for this nation to advance.

If there is going to be a significant change, “this deeply ingrained corruption must be nipped in the bud.” How else can we explain the troubling revelations made by BudgIT, which included a staggering $7 trillion in dubious projects for the 2025 national budget? I’m persuaded that this figure only accounts for a small portion of the actual misappropriation.

These findings confirm my long-held claim that we have turned our nation into a crime location. To effectively and effectively manage our resources, we must urgently and systematically combat corruption, misappropriation, and fiscal recklessness, and invest in essential development areas like education, health, and lifting our people out of poverty.

The 7 trillion discovered as being duped into the 2025 budget is even greater than the combined budgets for the ministries of agriculture, human rights, and health, which are essential to the development of the country.

The politician listed each ministry’s 2025 federal allocation, noting that the total amounts were still below the alleged N7tn, which was also inserted.

To be precise, the Ministry of Education received 3.55 trillion, the Ministry of Health received 2.48 trillion, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation received 260 billion, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security received 636.08 billion. These four ministries received a total of $6.896 trillion, which is an already exaggerated sum, but it is still below the $7 trillion budget-dubiously injected figure.

At a time when Nigeria is among the most terrorized countries in the world, “that is even more than the 6.1 trillion allocated to national security.”

Obi questioned why the federal government would not instead invest in vital sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education, describing the action as “brazen impunity” by political leaders.

“The country cannot invest adequately in education, which is why there are nearly 20 million children who are not in school,” according to our leaders. The corruption that has harmed primary healthcare has led to alarming numbers of malnourished children. Our leaders ignore agricultural investment because of persistent mismanagement and a lack of accountability, despite the widespread hunger we experience.