Headlines

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.