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Category: News

  • Akpabio to involve women, special needs persons in governance

    The newly elected President of the Nigerian Senate, His Excellency Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON, has assured Nigerian women and those with special needs that the 10th Senate will work to ensure their inclusion in governance.

    He made this known in his acceptance speech after taking his oath of office as the 10th President of the Senate in Abuja.

    According to him, government is a continuum and the Senate is no less so.

    “We shall therefore, further strengthen the legislative space in continuation of the laudable efforts made by the 9th Senate under the able leadership of H.E. Senator Ahmed Lawan, GCON, President of the 9th Senate”.

    “Chief among these are: Gender matters, with specific affirmative provisions to guarantee women’s inclusivity; and Issues relating to persons with special needs and equality. Also, engaging, empowering and rewarding our resourceful and innovative youths in terms of protection of intellectual innovations and property, and improved access to finance for technological start-ups.

    “We must recognize and prepare for a mid-21st century global economy that places a premium on intellectual content and knowledge, and our young men and women must be supported to engage competitively”.

    The Senate President equally promised the expansion of the revenue streams available to the country, especially from our huge but largely unregulated natural and solid mineral resources base.

    He noted that, these additional sources of revenue will build the nation’s resilience to shocks and stresses resulting from the fluctuation of oil prices in the international market.

    “We will, as a forward-looking Senate, pass laws that emphasize economic viability, social acceptability and environmental sustainability, to encourage alternate and green technologies without prejudicing our developmental needs”.

    The Senate President also urged his colleagues to partner with the administration of President Bola Tinubu to make Nigeria better.

    “We must, as a Senate, rise to partner with His Excellency the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and provide the required legislative framework and legal environment for him to anchor the policies and programmes that he espouses for the country. In doing this, I will particularly like to address our Distinguished colleagues from other parties. Yes, we may have come to the National Assembly through the instrumentalities of different political parties, so it is appropriate to recognize and respect our differing perceptions and positions on issues that will be brought before this chamber”.

    “However, in all matters of national interest, we are enjoined to remember that we are first and foremost, Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, before our roles as representatives and members of our individual political parties. There is therefore, every reason to support good policies and programmes of the federal government, and I call on you to put this national interest first at all times. Our Senate, the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will be a senate for all Nigeria. Together, we shall be greater than the sum of our individual political parties”.

  • Gunmen kill pastor, 20 others in Plateau

    Suspected gunmen have killed Rev. Nichodemus Kim of the Church of Christ in Nation (COCIN) and 20 others in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau.

    The pastor was killed at Gana-Ropp community of Barkin Ladi, while others were wasted in Rim, Jol, and Kwi communities of Riyom.

    Mr Rwang Tengwong, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement (BYM), a socio-cultural group, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Jos.

    According to Tengwong, the communities were attacked simultaneously, adding that the attacks were highly coordinated.

    He explained that the attacks which occurred on Sunday night, left many persons with various degrees of injuries, adding that scores were currently displaced.

    ”Twenty-one persons were killed and several others injured on Sunday during coordinated attacks by militias on residents of Rim, Jol, Kwi communities of Riyom as well as Gana-Ropp community in Barkin Ladi

    ”Two persons were killed at Rim, Seven at Jol, 11 at Kwi, all in Riyom, while a clegyman, Rev. Nichodemus Kim, was killed in Gana-Ropp Barkin Ladi

    ”The attacks on Rim, Jol and Kwi were simultaneously coordinated and held between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday.

    ”In Kwi, an entire community, Hei-gwe, was razed and over 100 farmlands destroyed,” he said.

    Tengwong called on the government and the security agencies to fashion out lasting solutions to the spate of attacks and killings in communities.

    ”The BYM under the leadership of Solomon Mwantiri, hereby condemns the coordinated attacks and other forms of provocation meted out on innocent persons of Plateau since after the 2023 general elections.

    ”We call on the new administration both at Federal and state levels, to come up with new strategies to address the security situation in the country and particularly in Plateau.

    ”Security personnel must also wake up to their statutory responsibilities to safeguard lives and property.

    ”BYM equally calls on the Berom nation to remain calm and law-abiding, but must explore every avenue to defend their communities as we cannot sit and watch while they kill us one after another,” he said.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, DSP Alabo Alfred, could not be reached for comments.

    However, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang, the Governor of the state, confirmed the killings in a statement by Mr Gyang Bere, his Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA).

    The governor further confirmed the kidnap of a traditional ruler in Mushere, Bokkos Local Government Area of the state.

    He promised residents of the state his commitment to tackling the spate of attacks, killings, kidnappings, and other security challenges currently facing the state.

    ”Let me assure the people that we are retooling the security apparatus of the state and by the special grace of God we will have a secured Plateau,” he said.

    The governor called on the residents of the state to keep away their differences and unite towards moving the state forward.

  • Tajudeen Abbas emerges House of Representatives Speaker

    Hon. Tajudeen Abbas has been elected as Speaker of the House Representatives.

    He was declared winner having scored more than 200 votes on Tuesday.

    More details later…

  • Barau Jubril emerges Deputy President of 10th Senate

    Senator Barau Jubril, representing Kano-North Senatorial District, has emerged as Deputy President, following his nomination at the inauguration of 10th Senate on Tuesday.

    Jubril’s was nominated by Senator David Umahi (APC-Ebonyj) and was seconded by Salihu Mustapha (APC-Kwara).

    Jubri, in his remarks shortly after his nomination, accepted to serve as Deputy President of the Senate.

    He was immediately sworn-in by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Tambuwal.

  • Godswill Akpabio is new Senate President

    Former governor of Akwa-Ibom State and Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio (APC-Akwa Ibom) has been sworn in as the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly after he was elected by the Senators-elect in Abuja.

    Akpabio, who represents North West at the national assembly, scored 63 votes to beat his rival, Sen. Abdulaziz Yari who polled 46 votes in the election.

    Senator Barau Jubrin (APC-Kano) was also elected as the Deputy Senate President.

    Akpabio was born on Dec. 9, 1962 to the family of Chief Obot Akpabio and Madam Lucy Obot Akpabio (née Inyangetor) of Ukana, Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom.

    He did his primary education at Methodist Primary School, Ukana and had his secondary education at the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, after which he gained admission to study law at the University of Calabar and graduated in 1987.

    Akpabio completed his law school studies at the Lagos Law School in 1988 and was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar.

    After he was called to the bar, he worked briefly as a teacher and also as an associate partner with Paul Usoro and Co., a leading law firm in Nigeria.

    He also worked with EMIS Telecoms Limited, a pioneer fixed wireless telecommunications company in Lagos.
    In 2002, he rose to the position of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company.  While still in the Telecoms industry working as a Director at EMIS, Akpabio, served as the National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Telecommunication Companies in Nigeria, (ATCOM).

    In 2002, Akpabio was appointed as Akwa Ibom state’s Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources and later Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

    In 2006 he was appointed as the Commissioner for Lands and Housing.

    In April 2007, he contested for the state governorship seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was successful.

    In the 2011, Akpabio contested for a second term and was successfully re-elected as the governor of Akwa Ibom.
    In 2015, he contested for the Awka Ibom North West Senate Seat and won on the PDP Platform.

    He was the minority leader of the 8th Senate.  Akpabio was the Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs in the immediate past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He is a recipient of the Nigerian National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

    He holds several international, media and academic awards.

  • 10th Senate Inauguration underway in Abuja

    10th Senate Inauguration underway in Abuja

    The inauguration of the 10th Senate is ongoing at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. Only yesterday, leading contenders in the tussle for leadership of the Senate stepped down for Senator Godswill Akpabio who is anointed by the APC and President Bola Tinubu.

    More details later…

  • US sets to rejoin UNESCO after 12 years

    The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has announced that the United States has decided to rejoin the organisation in July.

    The U.S. will rejoin the UN cultural agency after having stopped all funding in 2011 and announced its complete withdrawal from the agency.

    UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay told Member States that the decision was “a strong act of confidence in UNESCO and in multilateralism”.

    He added that it was also an expression of confidence in the way that the agency was implementing its mandate on culture, education, science and information.

    UNESCO said that in a letter sent to Azoulay, the U.S. State Department “welcomed the way in which UNESCO had addressed in recent years emerging challenges, modernised its management, and reduced political tensions”.

    The country stopped funding UNESCO in 2011 after the organisation extended membership to Palestine. At the time, U.S. funding made up 22 percent of the agency’s budget.

    The United States is a founding member of UNESCO and had also withdrawn from the organisation in 1984, then rejoined in 2003.

    The full return of the U.S. as a UNESCO Member State was made possible by an agreement reached by Congress in December 2022.

    The agreement was part of the $1.7 trillion Omnibus Appropriations Bill, authorising the resumption of financial contributions to the organisation.

    The suspension of contributions in 2011 took place after a large majority of other UNESCO countries accepted Palestine as a Member State.

    This made the U.S. trigger a 1990 law passed on Capitol Hill forbidding funding for any international body that admitted Palestine.

    However, the legislation last December, granted a waiver to the 33-year-old law.

    The formal withdrawal from UNESCO by the U.S. occurred on January 1, 2019, with Israel following suit.

    As of December 2020, the U.S. reportedly owed UNESCO around $616 million in unpaid membership dues.

    According to news reports, U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, had spoke in Washington in favour of rejoining UNESCO.

    He reportedly told lawmakers in April 2022, that it was important to be a member to help shape its norms and standards, and contribute to its critical work in education and artificial intelligence.

    In its press release announcing the U.S. decision, UNESCO said new initiatives have been launched empowering the organisation “to fully tackle contemporary challenges”.

    It said the challenges include issues such as the ethics of artificial intelligence or the protection of the ocean, “while emblematic new field campaigns, including the reconstruction of the old city of Mosul Iraq.

    It said these “have allowed the organisation to reconnect with its historical ambitions.”

    A new “financing plan” linked to the U.S. returning to the fold, will now be submitted to UNESCO’s General Conference, for Member States’ approval. 

  • Sterling Bank’s CEO, Abubakar Suleiman tipped for CBN Governor

    Sterling Bank’s CEO, Abubakar Suleiman tipped for CBN Governor

    There are indications that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may appoint the Managing Director/CEO of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman as the next Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, NIGERIAN ANCHOR can report. 

    This newspaper learned that the decision followed Abubakar’s achievements since he was appointed in 2018, as Sterling Banks’ helmsman. 

    In his official Twitter handle seen on Monday in Abuja, Imran Muhammed said President Bola Tinubu was considering Abubakar, among several other names. 

    “According to a source, President Tinubu is also considering Abubakar Suleiman as CBN Governor,” Muhammed tweeted. 

    Several names are being touted in the past week following the inaugural speech of the President and subsequent suspension Godwin Emefiele. 

    Tinubu has stated that his administration will reform the financial sector of the economy and unify the country’s exchange rate, which analysts say is a disincentive to investments.

    Names that have been making the rounds concerning the Apex Bank appointment include former Governors, Abubakar Badaru and Nasir el-Rufai, former CBN Governor under President Goodluck Jonathan, and Wale Edu, just to name a few.

    Analysts have said that the Sterling Bank CEO fits the bill considering his pedigree and what he has achieved since assuming the helm of affairs at the Bank. 

    Since his assumption of office in March 2018, as Sterling Banks’ Managing Director/CEO, Abu as he is fondly called, has been able to move the Bank to new heights. 

    Abubakar, in his five years as CEO, has brought a lot of innovations that have positioned the Bank among one of the most financially strong banks. 

    A look at the bank’s balance sheet would reveal the work that is being put into making Sterling Bank a leading light in the banking sector 

    Under his leadership, Sterling Bank has posted record profits with figures more than doubling the previous financial year’s returns. 

    From 2019 till date, the bank continue to show a strong financial position. For instance, in 2019, in his first year as head of the Bank posted a net interest income growth of N47.53 billion for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019, representing 19.3 percent when compared with N39.83 billion recorded in the corresponding period. 

    In 2020, which was a very difficult year globally due to the adverse effect of the Covid-19, Sterling Bank Plc reported a N12.4 billion profit before tax (PBT) representing a 15.9 percent growth compared to 2019.

    In 2021, the Bank reported its highest nine-month profits in seven years as profit rose to N13.4 billion in September 2022, up 41.6 percent from N9.46 billion in September 2021.

    According to the bank, it recorded an interest income of N90 billion in September 2022, up 8.8 percent from N82.7 billion in September 2021.

    In 2022, the Abubakar-led management ensured that the Group’s Gross Earnings were up 16.64% to N175.14 billion from 150.15 billion posted in 2021. This was driven by strong growth in interest income.

    Profit before Tax grew by 29.26% to N20.76 billion as against N16.06 billion posted in 2021.

    According to the bank’s financial report, Net Interest Income rose by 12.65% to N76.39 billion from N67.39 billion in 2021.

    He has held various positions such as the Institute of Directors, governing council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group committee for Agriculture and Food Security, and also serves on the advisory council of the Lagos Business School.

    As one of that rose through the ranks in the bank, Abubakar recently became the first CEO in Nigeria to virtually ring the closing gong for the trading day at the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

    The Bank was named one of the top 100 places to work in Nigeria for 2018, also winning the Best Quality of Life Award for her human resource management practices under his leadership.

    Abubakar was also named one of the Top CEOs in Nigeria at the BusinessDay Annual Top CEO and Next Bulls Awards 2020.

  • Tinubu signs Students’ Loan Bill into Law

    President Bola Tinubu has signed the Students’ Loan Bill into Law. ⁣⁣
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    An aide to the president, Dele Alake, disclosed this to State House Correspondents on Monday evening.⁣⁣
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    The bill will enable Nigerian students to access loans at interest-free rates. ⁣⁣
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    The legislation passed second reading at the House of Representatives on May 25, 2023. ⁣
    ⁣⁣
    Details shortly…⁣⁣

  • Senate Presidency: Orji Kalu, others step down for Akpabio

    With barely a few hours to the inauguration of the 10 Senate, frontline contenders Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Osita Izunaso, on Monday, met with Godswill Akpabio and allegedly endorsed his bid.

    Similarly, President of the 9th Senate, Ahmad Lawan, also met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Godswill Akpabio, where the Yobe Senator promised to deliver the former Akwa Ibom State Governor on Tuesday.

    Director-General of Akpabio Campaign Council, Mohammed Ali Ndume, told newsmen that 15 Senators-elect from the South East met with Akpabio, where they reportedly endorsed his candidacy.

    With the purported endorsement, Abdulaziz Yari’s bid, may have hit the rocks and his plans of usurping the zoning arrangements, may have failed.

    Speaking further, Ndume said former governors from the North, who hitherto refused to support Akpabio, have also made a U-turn. He listed Danjuma Goje, Aliyu Wamakko, Adamu Aliero, among others.

    According to him, Sani Musa who had settled for the position of the Deputy President of the Senate, has also stepped down and has endorsed Jibrin Barau.