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Category: Governance

  • US Company Donates Unmanned Vessels to Bolster Nigeria’s Security

    US Company Donates Unmanned Vessels to Bolster Nigeria’s Security

    In a bid to reinforce Nigeria’s security measures, the Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Muhammed Bello Matawalle, has orchestrated an official presentation of two advanced unmanned water vessels to President Tinubu.

    These vessels, named S2 and S3 Swift Sea Stalkers, were donated by the US-based Swift Ship Company.

    The handover ceremony, held at the Presidential Villa, entailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu receiving the two vessels.

    Matawalle underscored the crucial role these unmanned vessels would play in fortifying Nigeria’s security infrastructure, particularly in protecting vital waterways like the Niger Delta and Lake Chad, alongside other strategic maritime zones.

    The donation followed Matawalle’s recent diplomatic visit to various high-tech military hardware companies in the United States, with the objective to explore innovative technologies capable of enhancing Nigeria’s military capabilities, enabling the nation to effectively address modern security challenges.

    Additionally, Matawalle discussed the potential for collaborative efforts between US-based entities and Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation to locally manufacture military hardware.

    This partnership aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of strengthening national security measures and fostering peace within Nigeria.

    During his visit to the United States, Matawalle conducted thorough inspections of cutting-edge military and intelligence hardware facilities. These included assessments of rapid deployment mobile RADAR systems, drone control stations, unmanned water vehicles, and state-of-the-art biometric search-scan systems, among other pioneering innovations.

    Highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing defense capabilities, the Minister assured President Tinubu that integrating these advanced military technologies would significantly bolster Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.

  • 2024 Hajj Payment Deadline Extended

    2024 Hajj Payment Deadline Extended

    The National Hajj Commission has announced an extension of the payment deadline for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, now set for January 31, 2024, instead of the earlier stipulated December 31, 2023.

    In response to concerns raised by religious clerics, State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, State Governors, and other stakeholders regarding a low turnout, the commission reconsidered its stance.

    Assistant Director on Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, emphasized that the extension aims to provide additional opportunities for a broader range of faithful individuals seeking to participate in this sacred journey.

    Despite initially intending to proceed with the pilgrims who made payments by the initial deadline, NAHCON acknowledged the inevitability of the extension due to overwhelming requests and the significance of accessibility for all interested individuals.

    Usara highlighted that this extension period not only offers a chance for new registrations but also allows those needing to balance payments to do so within the extended timeframe.

    Moreover, she stressed the urgency of finalizing all Hajj deposits into designated accounts by the end of February, aligning with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s contractual deadlines.

    Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, Chairman of NAHCON, expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort among religious leaders, state boards, and governors in advocating for the pilgrims’ interests. 

    He underscored the commitment to ensuring a meaningful and inclusive Hajj experience and urged all stakeholders to utilize this extended opportunity effectively for the success of the 2024 Hajj operations.

  • President Tinubu Suspends Halima Shehu, CEO of National Social Investment Programme Agency

    President Tinubu Suspends Halima Shehu, CEO of National Social Investment Programme Agency

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended Halima Shehu from her roles as the National Coordinator and CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

    The suspension was ordered with immediate effect, replacing Shehu from her prominent position overseeing the Conditional Cash Transfer Program.

    The Senate ratified Shehu’s nomination back on October 18, 2023, following her appointment by President Tinubu earlier that month.

    Shehu, recognized for her banking expertise and professional development background, played a pivotal role in digitalizing the Conditional Cash Transfer Program.

    With roots in Katsina State, Shehu’s educational journey included earning a Bachelor of Arts in English Language from Ahmadu Bello University and later obtaining a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from the same institution.

    She honed her financial expertise during a decade-long banking career spanning several banks.

    Her venture into politics began in 2010, marked by key appointments in Katsina State governance and service as a presidential election observer in Cape Verde under the Economic Community of West African Countries in 2016.

  • President Bola Tinubu Signs N28.7 Trillion 2024 Budget into Law

    President Bola Tinubu Signs N28.7 Trillion 2024 Budget into Law

    President Bola Tinubu has officially signed the 2024 Appropriation Bill into law at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, marking the commencement of Nigeria’s fiscal year. 

    The budget, totaling N28.7 trillion, was approved by the National Assembly and signed by Tinubu upon his return from a week-long holiday in Lagos.

    This budget surpasses the initial proposal by N1.2 trillion, as outlined by the President during his presentation to the joint session of the National Assembly in November 2023. 

    President Tinubu highlighted a deficit of N9.18 trillion for the fiscal year, lower than the previous year’s deficit of N13.78 trillion, amounting to 6.11% of the GDP.

    The deficit is set to be financed through various channels, including new borrowings totaling N7.83 trillion, N298.49 billion from Privatisation Proceeds, and a drawdown of N1.05 trillion from multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific development projects.

    President Tinubu stressed the importance of adhering to the January-December implementation cycle, aiming for the swift enactment of the Appropriation Act by January 1, 2024.

    The Senate’s recent adjustment to the budget increased it by N1.2 trillion, elevating the total expenditure to N28.7 trillion. 

    The breakdown, as outlined in the report by the Appropriation Committee led by Senator Solomon Adeola, indicates allocations for statutory transfers, recurrent expenditure, capital expenditure, and a GDP growth projection of 3.88 per cent.

  • FG Releases List Of Motor Parks Nigerians Can Get 50% Transport Fare For Return Trips

    The Federal Government has released a list of motor parks where Nigerians can enjoy a 50% slash in transportation costs to return to their various locations after the festive season.

     Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, made this known on Friday, in a post via X (formerly Twitter).

    He wrote: “FG lists more motor parks where Nigerians can enjoy 50% rebate on transport fare for return trips during the festive season.”

    I. Lagos – Join from Oshodi Terminal 3

    II. Abuja – Join from Jabi Park

    III. Onitsha – Join from Umugo Park (Port Harcourt Road)

    IV. Aba – Join from Abia Polytechnic, Aba

    V. Kano – Join from Balmary Park, Ring Road/Maidugri Bypass, Hotoro

    VI. Kaduna – Join from Mando Park (Lagos route),

    VII. Join from Television Garage for Eastern route

    VIII. Jos – Join from Gadabiu Luxury Park

    IX. Enugu – (Abakiliki/Nsukka) – Join from Old Park in Enugu

    X. Owerri – Join from Somachi Park

    XI. Port Harcourt -. Join from Olu Obasanjo Ezenwata Park

    XII. Sokoto – Join from Sokoto Central Park

    XIII. Gombe – Join from Gombe Central Park

    XIV. Zakibiam – Join from Heavy Duty Park

    XV. Uyo – Join from The Young Shall Grow Park

    XVI.Uyo – Join from Young Shall Grow Park (No.17 Mosignor Akpan Avenue,

    XVII. Mbak Itam Itu, Akwa Ibom)

    XVIII. Uyo – Join from The Young Shall Grow Park (No.17 Mosignor Akpan

    XIX. Avenue, Mbak Itam Itu, Akwa Ibom)

    XX. Gombe – Join at Gombe Line Park, Opposite Government House, Gombe.

  • Kwankwaso Holds Special Prayer Session Ahead Of Supreme Court Verdict

    Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya political faction, organized a special prayer gathering at his residence in Kano on Monday. 

    This prayer session was aimed to implore divine intervention from God regarding the eagerly awaited Supreme Court decision on the Kano gubernatorial dispute.

    The Islamic group, Mu’assatul Kwankwasiyya, orchestrated this prayer session, with prominent figures like Mallam Yahaya Sufi, Mallam Ashiru Nata’ala, Mallam Bazallahi Nasiru Kabara, and Mallam Sadiq Isiyaku Rabiu leading the prayers. 

    Their supplications included seeking success for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in the Supreme Court ruling and praying for the continued peace and harmony within the state.

    This session saw the presence of certain members of the current administration’s cabinet, other political appointees, and supporters affiliated with the Kwankwasiyya movement. 

    The Supreme Court, under the stewardship of Justice Inyang Okoro and a panel of five justices, on Sunday reserved its judgment subsequent to hearing arguments from legal representatives involved in the case.

  • President Tinubu Orders Payment of Outstanding N-Power Stipends

    President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate payment of overdue stipends owed to N-Power beneficiaries nationwide.

    This action was prompted by a report revealing that Batch ‘C’ beneficiaries hadn’t received their stipends for nine months.

    The beneficiaries’ outcry led by the National Association of N-Power Beneficiaries prompted the President’s intervention.

    They expressed frustration over the non-payment, citing financial uncertainty and despair.

    Following a thorough verification exercise by the Ministry, Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, confirmed the commencement of fund disbursement in line with President Tinubu’s directive.

    The Minister emphasized the significance of this payment for Nigerian youths during the festive season, affirming the President’s commitment to their welfare.

    “I ensured beneficiaries were paid before Christmas as directed by the President. Payment has begun, and beneficiaries can check their bank accounts,” Zubair stated.

  • Enugu Guber: Supreme Court Upholds Mbah’s Victory

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Friday, affirmed the election of Peter Mbah as the governor of Enugu State.

    The Apex Court aligned with the decisions of the court of appeal Lagos and that of the Enugu state Election Petition Tribunal which upheld the election of Mbah as governor.

    The five-man panel of the justices, lead by Justice Muhammed Garba, resolved the issues canvased by the appellant who is the candidate of Labour Party (LP) Mr. Edeoga Chijioke Jonathan against him.

    The Labour Paper(LP) candidate has prayed that, Mbah was not qualified to participate in the election because he failed the basic eligibility test by filing a forged NYSC discharge Certificate under oath.

    They also contested that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act, with respect to the non-use of BVAS machines for accreditation, inter-changing of LP’s results in 19 PUs at the Ward Collation Centre in Udenu LGA , electoral violence and.

    Also, that the election result was not counted in accordance with the law due to over-voting, wrong tabulations especially in Mbah’s Owo Ward and Ugbawka 1 Ward, both of Nkanu East LGA, etc.

    At the court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos, led by Tani Yusuf-Hassan, the appallate court held that the Labour Party (LP) and its governorship candidate failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove that Mr Mbah was not qualified to contest the election.

    On the allegation of over-voting, Mrs Hassan said in her lead judgement that voters’ registers were not presented before the lower tribunal.

    She, therefore, ruled that the appeal failed because the petitioners failed to submit the voters’ registers for the disputed areas to substantiate the over-voting allegation.

    The court also determined that the witnesses presented by the Labour Party did not sufficiently prove the existence of over-voting in the governorship election.

    Consequently, the court dismissed the case for lacking in merit and upheld the judgement of the election tribunal, which had earlier affirmed INEC’s declaration of Mr Mbah as the winner of the 18 March governorship election.

    Moreso, the Supreme Court on the issue of non qualification of Governor Mbah, held that, the allegations by Jonathan have laid without proof at all and liable to be truck out.

    “There is merit in the argument of the appellant and lacks merit.”

    On the complain of lack of proper evaluation or counting of results in accordance with the law by the appellant, the court held that, the Tribunal was right to hold that the evidences were merely hearsay as they are not substantiated.

    “The Appeal lacks merit and the decision of the of appeal is affirmed in its entirety.” The Court held.

    “All parties bear their respective costs.” The Court added.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Governor Mbah as winner of the governorship election with 160,895 votes.

    Mr Edeoga of the LP came second with 157,552 votes, while Frank Nweke of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) polled 17, 983 votes to place third.

    Dissatisfied with the results, Mr Edeoga and his party filed a petition, challenging Mr Mbah’s victory, asking that he should be declared as winner on the grounds that he and the party, polled the highest number of valid votes.

    Counsel to Governor Mbah Mr. Damian Dodo SAN while reacting on the judgment said it was in line with the law.

  • Senate confirms 11 Supreme Court Justices

    The Nigerian Senate, Thursday, confirmed the appointment of 11 Supreme Court justices sent by President Bola Tinubu to fill the vacancies in the apex court.

    The confirmation was made possible after the consideration and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee chairman on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, during plenary.

    Recall that President Tinubu had asked the Senate to confirm the nominees, who were recommended by the National Judicial Council to fill the vacant positions following death and retirement of some justices.

    The nominees confirmed are Justice Haruna Tsammani (North East) who chaired the Presidential Election Petition Court, Justice Moore Adumein (South South), Justice Jummai Sankey (North Central), Justice Chidiebere Uwa (South East) and Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (South East)

    Others are Justice Obande Ogbuinya (South-East), Justice Stephen Adah (North Central), Justice Habeeb Abiru (South West), Justice Jamilu Tukur (North West), Justice Abubakar Umar (North West) and Justice Mohammed Idris (North Central).

    The chairman of the committee, Senator Tahir Monguno while presenting his panel report, said the nominees possessed the necessary qualifications and experience to occupy the position and that there was no petition against them. He subsequently recommended their confirmation.

    However, with the confirmation of the 11 justices, the Supreme Court now has the complete statutory requirement of 21 justices on its bench.