Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Tinubu has signed the N29.7 trillion 2024 appropriation bill into law at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, January 1, 2024.

President Tinubu signed the budget document earlier approved by the National Assembly hours after he arrived in Abuja from Lagos where he spent the past week on holidays.

Leading reporters report that the 2024 budget is N1.2 trillion higher than what he proposed to a joint session of the National Assembly on November 29, 2023.

The President had pegged the budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year at N9.18 trillion.

“The N9.18 trillion deficit is lower than the N13.78 trillion deficit recorded in 2023 which represents 6.11 per cent of GDP,” Tinubu had said.

The deficit will be financed by new borrowings totalling N7.83 trillion, N298.49 billion from Privatisation Proceeds and N1.05 trillion drawdown on multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific development projects.”

He also emphasized the need to maintain the January-December implementation cycle saying: “Our goal is to ensure that the Appropriation Act comes into effect on January 1, 2024,”

On Friday, December 29, 2023, the Senate increased the 2024 budget by N1.2 trillion, moving the budget from N27.5 trillion to N28.7 trillion.

According to the report submitted by the Appropriation Committee led by Senator Solomon Adeola, aggregate expenditure was pegged at N28,777,404.073.861; statutory transfers at N1,742,786,788,150; recurrent expenditure at N8,768.5330,852; capital expenditure at N9,995,143,298,028 and GDP at 3.88 per cent.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has assured Nigerians that things will improve in 2024.

The cleric, while reeling out his prophesies for 2024 during the crossover night service on Sunday at the Redemption City along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, however, said things would first get worse before getting better.

He said, “For Nigeria, the wind is already blowing. The wind is blowing.

“Everything God is saying is centred around that little sentence. The wind is blowing; include in your prayers that the wind will blow you well.

“Things will get worse before they get better. Things will get a little hotter before it gets better.”

The clergyman further predicted that individuals starting from humble beginnings could witness significant advancements by mid-year

The Senate will hold a special plenary by 1pm prompt today, Saturday, December 30, to consider and pass the 2024 budget.

This contained in a memo addressed to the Senators by the Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze.

The memo titled: “plenary sitting to commence at 1pm prompt,” however did not provide reasons for the shifting of the plenary that had been scheduled for 10am to 1pm.

The memo read: “Dear Distinguished Senators. This is to kindly inform Distinguished Senators that the plenary sitting of the Senate, scheduled for Saturday, December 30th, 2023, will hold by 1pm prompt. Thank you and God Bless”

The Senate had on Wednesday 21st December 2023 adjourned plenary till Friday 29th December to consider and pass the 2024 budget.

Recall that the leadership of the National Assembly had expressed its readiness to pass the 2024 budget before the end of 2023 in order to maintain the January – December budget cycle policy of the Federal Government.

Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, has signed the state’s 2024 appropriation bill of N225.7 billion into law.

Alia, according to a statement by Tersoo Kula, his press secretary, signed the budget on Friday during a ceremony at the Old Banquet Hall of the Benue state government house.

The governor described the occasion as a significant step towards the progress and prosperity of Benue.

The appropriation bill is titled “budget for infrastructural development, job creation, and poverty alleviation”.

Alia said there is a recurrent expenditure of N110.5 billion, representing 48.9 percent of the estimate, while the capital head stands at N115.2 billion, representing 51.1 percent of the budget.

He added that the deficit financing of the budget stands at N34.6 billion, representing 15.3 percent of the estimate.

The governor said the budget would serve as a roadmap that would chart the course for a “future where Benue communities would thrive”.

He said his administration would invest significantly in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, and other vital infrastructure, adding that job seekers and entrepreneurs in the state would also benefit from it.

“This budget is a beacon of hope for job seekers and aspiring entrepreneurs. We understand the importance of job creation in fostering a dynamic and resilient economy,” Alia said.

“By allocating resources to various sectors, we aim to stimulate economic activities that will, in turn, generate employment opportunities.

“Whether through public works projects, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, agriculture or investments in emerging industries, we are committed to creating a conducive environment for job growth.

“Poverty alleviation remains at the forefront of our agenda.”

Alia also appreciated members of the Benue house of assembly for their efforts at ensuring the budget is passed into law.

He also called on residents of the state to support his administration to develop the state.

“Together, we can build a future that is characterized by prosperity, inclusivity, and shared success,” Alia said.

The terrorists causing havoc in Plateau State have threatened to launch fresh attacks on a community in the State, today, (Friday).

The threat was confirmed on Thursday by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Middle Belt Forum, Stanley Kavwam while featuring on Arise TV program.

According to him, the terrorists sent a letter of an imminent attack to the Pushit community in Mangu Local Government Area, where he hails from.

“While I was driving down from Jos to this place, I received a call. A letter was sent to my own village by the terrorists that the attackers were going to invade on the 29th of this December.

“All the attacks that were orchestrated, there was a letter to that effect that was dropped by an anonymous person, intimating the residents of Mangu LGA that there would be attacks”, he said.

LEADING REPORTERS reports that the letter is coming barely four days after the daredevil gunmen invaded 17 communities on Christmas eve, killed several persons and burnt down the entire communities.

Death toll from the heinous attack on unsuspecting villagers in the three local government areas of the state has risen to 196.

A reliable source, who is conversant with the unfortunate incident, told daily post on Thursday that at least 149 persons, including women and children have been buried in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state.

He said the unprovoked attack by the blood-thirsty assailants who have been causing mayhem in the state also claimed no fewer than 28 lives in Barkin Ladi LGA.

Similarly, about 19 persons were gunned down in Mangu Local Government Area during the horrendous attack. All attacks happened within 24 hours.

The incessant massacre in the state has, over time, stimulated the question of whether the attackers are known or not.

A security source told DAILY POST that the identities of the terrorists are not hidden.

According to him, it is an age-long issue which involves some stakeholders in the state.

“There are people deliberately frustrating the efforts of security personnel. It is a technical issue that has been there for years. But trust me, the security agencies here are looking for means to end this attack once and for all.

“Since they don’t want peace, we may give them what they want”, he said anonymously.

It would be recallthat Hon Peter Ibrahim Gyendeng, a federal lawmaker representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom in Plateau State in the House of Representatives, had in an interview with Arise TV, declared that they know the attackers

In a video clip that resurfaced on social media recently, the lawmaker said even the security agencies know the attackers.

He also confirmed that the terrorists usually drop notice of attacks.

He said, “They are not hidden. The security agencies know them very well. We know where they are coming from, we know where they go when they attack.

“Sometimes, the place they say they are going to attack, they don’t attack the place. They will go to another vulnerable place and attack.”

Gunmen last night attacked a convoy suspected to belong to self-styled godfather of Anambra politics, Chief Chris Uba.

A source disclosed that vehicles in the convoy were riddled with bullets, just as two police operatives attached to the politician were killed. It was also gathered that another politician and a chieftain of Labour Party, Mr Val Ozigbo, narrowly escaped the attack.

The source said: “We witnessed what happened. Chris Uba’s convoy ran into the men who were stationed at UGA junction, leading to a shootout.

“Uba was able to escape because he was riding in a bullet proof vehicle, but the policemen were not so lucky as they were killed.

“Val Ozigbo was coming back from Owerri with members of his family when he suddenly saw a convoy driving ferociously toward his own convoy, and attempting to edge him off the road. He quickly told his driver to clear off the road let the other convoy pass by.

“Shortly after they overtook Ozigbo, they ran into the gunmen at UGA junction who started shooting, and killed two policemen. Ozigbo who parked while the incident was happening, later learnt that the convoy that was attacked was that of Uba.”

It was learnt that the aim of the men was to kidnap the politician. Many people were said to have been injured, but it was not clear if anyone was kidnapped.

Meanwhile, police authorities in a press release by the state police command’s spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga said it has launched a manhunt for the attackers.

The release read: “Anambra State Police Command has launched an intensive manhunt for armed insurgents who infiltrated from a neighbouring State and killed two Police Personnel on 28th December 2023 at about 18.30 hours (6.30 p.m.)

“The gang which disguised in military fatigue and seemed to be on a kidnap mission were jolted on seeing two armed Police officers approaching their direction. They opened fire on the officers who had moved ahead of the convoy they were escorting to decongest traffic gridlock. Other personnel returned fire, careful not to hit many motorists who were in traffic, forcing the bandits to flee.

“Police-led mobile Forward Operating Base which had been on intensive patrol of the entire area throughout Christmas celebrations promptly responded to the scene.

“It recovered a Lexus SUV the gang operated with and defused an improvised explosive device found in the vehicle. It also recovered an AK-47 rifle belonging to one of the slain personnel.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye who had declared the weekend and Christmas holidays as special working days for all Officers and men in the Command commended all personnel for their tireless and courageous effort in securing the people of Anambra State.

“He urged them not to be demoralized by the supreme price paid by their colleagues from Enugu State Command but to draw inspiration from their bravery in confronting the criminal gang.

“He condoled with the families of the deceased officers and Enugu State Police Command and vowed that the personnel will not die in vain.

“He has urged all officers and men of Anambra State Police Command to redouble their efforts and remain vigilant. He assured that technology would be employed to track down the criminals who unleashed the attack on Police personnel.”

The Redeemed Christian Church of God says its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has profound regard for traditional rulers, adding that the respected preacher did not at any point ask a monarch to vacate his throne for him to sit on it.

The church, in a statement, said contrary to insinuations, the octogenarian cleric sat on a new chair during the church’s evangelism programme in Oyo State.

Last weekend, Pastor Adeboye was pictured sitting on a royal chair at the church’s Let’s-Go-A-Fishing evangelism programme that had the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon in Oyo State, Oba Francis Alao, in attendance.

The viral photo attracted criticisms from many social commentators but the monarch involved, on Monday, clarified that the chair Pastor Adeboye sat on was one of the royal chairs used by high-ranking dignitaries and not the one for his throne.

Also, the RCCG, in its statement, clarified that Pastor Adeboye did not ask the king to vacate his throne so he could sit on it.

“At no point during his time at the ministration did he ask any of the kings to vacate their throne for him to sit on.

“The seat on the altar was brand new. No other king or individual had sat on the seat before.

“Pastor E.A. Adeboye truly respects and honours the traditional chiefs & traditional rulers in our nation. He honours them, holds them in high regard and would not do anything at all to demean them.”

Tragedy struck Kuduru community in Bwari on Wednesday night as kidnappers numbering over 20 stormed the area and abducted seven members of the community.

The incident, which happened at about 11:20pm on Wednesday night, has put the entire community in a state of shock and panic.

The captors were said to have stormed the neighbourhood, which is located less than two kilometers to the Kuduru Police Station in Bwari and operated for about 30 minutes.

One of the residents identified as Mohammed in the neighbourhood who spoke to THE WHISTLER said the Vice Chairman of the neighbourhood association was kidnapped.

He was said to have been kidnapped with two other adults while a woman and her three children were also kidnapped.

Mohammed said, “It was at about 11:20pm on Wednesday night when I started hearing gunshots on my street. When I opened the window to peep,I saw gunmen numbering about 20 in strategic areas of the street.

“Some of them entered the house beside me and kidnapped the vice chairman of our community. They now went into the house opposite me and took another people.

“It was at this time that the neighbourhood called the Kuduru police station and the military camp in Bwari for assistance. A few minutes later,the military personnel came with their vehicles and chased the kidnappers into the bush.

” The entire community joined in the chase, which continued for a while, but we couldn’t get any of the kidnappers and their hostages.

“None of the families have also been contacted since last night when the incident happened.”

He said the kidnappers came on foot through the bushes and escaped through the same route.