Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Senate Committee on Solid Minerals has urged the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO) to sustain and enhance its revenue generation efforts to support the Federal Government’s fiscal targets.

The call was made on Thursday during the 2025 budget defence of NMCO at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Ekong Sampson (PDP, Akwa Ibom), Chairman of the Committee, commended the agency for its efficient fund management and revenue contributions but stressed the need for greater efforts to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s developmental agenda.

“The Mining Cadastre Office has performed well in revenue generation. However, there is still room for improvement,” Sampson said. “The country is focusing on diversification, and increasing revenue from this sector will significantly strengthen our economy.”

The senator assured the agency of the committee’s support in achieving its goals, stating, “We recognize your efforts and projections. The committee is fully aware of the issues you have raised and will continue to encourage you as you ramp up revenue for the country.”

He also highlighted the importance of adequately funding the solid minerals sector to reduce Nigeria’s dependency on oil and drive economic diversification.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has secured a $200 million investment for a lithium factory during his visit to Jiuling Lithium’s headquarters in Fengxin County, China.

The investment, which will establish the factory in Nasarawa Local Government Area, is part of the governor’s week-long investment drive aimed at attracting foreign direct investments to the state. The visit allowed Governor Sule to gain first-hand insight into the operations of Jiuling Lithium, a prominent miner of mineral resources and manufacturer of lithium carbonate, a key component in renewable energy battery production.

During the visit, Governor Sule obtained a commitment from Jiuling Lithium to complete the 6-million-ton capacity factory within 18 months. The company also praised Nasarawa State’s favorable investment climate and ease of doing business, pledging to explore other investment opportunities in the state.

Governor Sule is currently in China at the invitation of LOVOL Engineering Company Ltd, a global leader in the manufacturing of farm equipment and machinery.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued nine pregnant women from a suspected baby factory in the Ushafa area of Abuja.

According to a statement by Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP spokesperson, the women were found on Thursday in a rented apartment within a large estate where they had been locked up by an unidentified trafficking agent. The agent allegedly recruited them through an online platform.

The rescue operation was initiated after a concerned citizen tipped off NAPTIP about unusual activities and movements in the area.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has called on the military to intensify efforts in reclaiming forests across Nigeria as a strategy to combat banditry.

Ganduje made the statement during a condolence visit to Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, following a tanker explosion in the state that claimed several lives last week.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, on Thursday in Abuja, Ganduje emphasized the need for proactive and decisive measures to address criminal activities in the country.

“The solution to this menace is to conquer the forests. The bandits are in the forest. Why have we been on the defensive instead of being on the offensive?” Ganduje said.

The former Kano State governor highlighted his administration’s success in addressing similar challenges, noting that the military’s occupation of Falgore Forest during his tenure forced bandits out of the area, contributing to peace in the state.

Ganduje also commended Governor Bago for maintaining peace in Niger State despite its vast landmass and forested terrain.

In response, Governor Bago expressed gratitude for the APC leadership’s support and urged the federal government to prioritize infrastructure development, particularly the Suleja-Minna road, to reduce accidents and enhance safety in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on political parties to nominate fresh candidates for bye-elections into state and federal legislative positions.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the appeal during the Commission’s first quarterly meeting with political parties for the year. He highlighted the increasing number of vacancies in legislative positions, noting that 23 constituencies have become vacant since the inauguration of the current national and state assemblies in June 2023.

Prof. Yakubu explained that over the past year and a half, INEC has conducted nine bye-elections, with 14 additional vacancies arising since then. He described the challenge of bye-elections as “unpredictable, unbudgeted, and difficult to plan in advance,” adding that some elections lead to a chain reaction of more vacancies.

“In some cases, a bye-election in one senatorial district is won by a member of the House of Representatives from the same district, creating another vacancy. Similarly, a member of a State Assembly may win a bye-election to the House of Representatives, thereby leaving another vacancy in the State Assembly. This results in one bye-election leading to three bye-elections,” he said.

Yakubu emphasized that these repeated bye-elections divert the Commission’s attention from its broader electoral responsibilities. He reiterated INEC’s longstanding advocacy for a cost-effective alternative to filling vacancies, similar to practices in other jurisdictions worldwide.

“Since 2016, INEC has been urging stakeholders, including political parties, to support the call for the National Assembly to amend the law on filling vacancies. Just three weeks ago, we reiterated this position during the defense of our 2025 budget before the joint Senate and House of Representatives committees,” he stated.

The INEC Chairman commended political parties for their cooperation during previous bye-elections, particularly their decision to nominate fresh candidates, which reduced the number of cascading bye-elections. He urged the parties to maintain this approach going forward.

“I hope we can continue this cooperative spirit, ensuring that we conduct one bye-election per constituency rather than multiple bye-elections resulting from a single vacancy,” Yakubu concluded.

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on Wednesday, locked out several civil servants at the state secretariat in Makurdi for arriving late to work.

The governor took the action during an unscheduled visit to inspect ongoing renovation works at the secretariat, including the installation of new lights. Arriving at about 10:35 a.m., Governor Alia directed security personnel attached to his convoy to lock the gates, barring latecomers from accessing their offices.

During his tour of several ministries, the governor expressed dissatisfaction with the truancy observed, noting the absence of commissioners and senior officials from their posts.

Addressing some civil servants, Governor Alia voiced concerns over their lackadaisical attitude towards their duties, warning of potential disciplinary actions.

“With what you are doing, you are creating a vicious circle for your families. You cannot get money and be uplifted because you are cheats and because of the effect of what you are doing,” he said.

He continued, “The work I do is not for me, but for those who don’t know I am the governor and those who will see me and not recognise me. I’m appealing to you because I have a quick way of getting your names and firing you, as I have the power to do so.

“I am speaking to you as a priest and not as governor, and telling you the dangers of what you are doing. It is not about me. Who is the government? All of you here are the government. Even in the family, somebody governs the home, and there are rules. And in every government, there are rules.”

Governor Alia urged the civil servants to adopt a more responsible approach to their work, emphasizing the importance of their roles in serving the people of the state.

The Federal Government has announced plans to set up an aircraft manufacturing facility in Nigeria, marking a significant step towards positioning the country as a regional hub for aviation services.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this during the launch of XeJet’s Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility and flight support centre in Abuja.

The project is a collaboration between XeJet, an indigenous aviation operator, and local banks. According to the minister, the initiative aligns with the government’s vision to support local operators and boost the nation’s aviation industry.

“Since we came to office, we’ve been focused on attracting MRO facilities to our aviation ecosystem, just as they exist in other parts of the world,” Keyamo said. “We’ve searched far and wide for investors, but now we see that what we were looking for elsewhere is right here at home. This collaboration between an indigenous operator and local banks is a dream come true.”

Keyamo highlighted the inclusion of additional facilities, such as a training centre, which he described as a significant milestone for the industry.

“This development will not only serve Nigeria but will attract users from across the West African sub-region,” he said. “That’s the dream—to make this facility a regional centre for excellence.”

The initiative is expected to advance local aviation capacity while fostering economic growth and regional cooperation in the aviation sector.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the approval and upcoming launch of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) Code.

In a statement released by the apex bank, the Code is designed to serve as a guideline for the banking industry, promoting ethical practices among authorised dealers in the country’s foreign exchange market.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the release of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) Code as a guideline to the banking industry to promote the ethical conduct of authorised dealers in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market,” the statement read.

The formal launch of the FX Code is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at the CBN Head Office Auditorium in Abuja.

The Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU) has recommended a review of the draft policy on sanctions for airlines to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, made this proposal during the Q1–Q3 2024 Performance Assessment Report on implementing presidential priorities and ministerial deliverables.

According to Usman, the increasing number of flight delays and cancellations, as well as their impact on passengers, necessitates revisiting the sanctions policy. She also urged a revision of the current 224-day target for resolving customer complaints, describing it as unrealistic and inconsistent with global standards.

In a statement shared on the CRDCU’s Twitter handle, the Special Adviser highlighted her concerns during a meeting at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. Present at the meeting were the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo; the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Kana; the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku; and other heads of agencies under the Ministry.

“The CRDCU, led by the Special Adviser, continued its engagement with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to review the Q1–Q3 2024 Performance Assessment Report on implementing Presidential Priorities and Ministerial Deliverables,” the statement read.

The Special Adviser commended the Ministry for progress made in the aviation sector but raised concerns over the submission of incomplete information by the Ministry and its agencies. She noted that this shortcoming hampers independent assessments of progress and emphasized the need for improved stakeholder and customer engagement.

Usman described the review of the draft sanctions policy as critical in addressing the growing issue of flight disruptions. She also called for an urgent recalibration of the timeline for resolving customer complaints to better align with international best practices.

In response, Minister Festus Keyamo expressed appreciation for the CRDCU’s work and assured the Special Adviser that the Ministry would address the identified challenges. He pledged to intensify efforts to enhance performance and service delivery in the aviation sector.

The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD FCTA), has commenced a three-day warning strike to protest unpaid salaries, allowances, and other unresolved demands.

The strike, which began on Wednesday, has brought activities in government hospitals across Abuja to a halt.

President of ARD FCTA, Dr. George Ebong, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja, stating that the decision to embark on the industrial action followed the expiration of a three-week ultimatum issued to the government last year.

Dr. Ebong expressed concerns over the neglect of doctors’ welfare and hospital infrastructure in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He called on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to urgently address the situation to prevent an indefinite shutdown of medical services.

“The three-day strike is being implemented across all government hospitals in Abuja, including Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, Kubwa, Zuba, Kwali, Abaji, and Nyanya,” Dr. Ebong said.

He noted that despite multiple dialogues and the government’s request for a two-week extension to address the issues, no tangible progress had been made.

“We gave the government a three-week ultimatum to meet our demands. After that, we engaged in dialogue, and they pleaded for two more weeks, but nothing has been done since then—not even the minimum action. We expected them to pay the six months of unpaid arrears owed to doctors,” he said.

The ARD FCTA president lamented the lack of attention to doctors’ welfare, describing them as “abandoned projects.” He urged the FCT Minister to consider their plight alongside other development efforts in the capital city.

Dr. Ebong warned that the association would review the situation after the warning strike and could embark on an indefinite strike if their demands remain unmet.

This development follows a similar warning issued by ARD FCTA in December 2024 over the failure of the government to address their grievances.