Headlines

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved an application to secure a budget support loan worth $1.5 billion from the World Bank and an additional $80 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Leading reporters gathered that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, made the announcement while speaking with State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting on Wednesday.

Edun said the funds will be utilised for various projects in crucial sectors of the nation’s economy. He added that Nigeria qualified for the “relatively cheap” loans given its “macro-economic moves” in the past couple of months since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.

“The bold, brave, courageous and decisive measures that Mr President has taken are being rewarded by processing for Nigeria $1.5bn of immediate financing, which, provided that we do everything on our side, will be in before the end of the year,” Edun said.

He explained that the $1.5 billion loan from the World Bank would be concessional financing, which means that it would have a low interest rate and a long repayment period.

Edun also said that the $80 million loan from the AfDB will be used to support the Ekiti Knowledge Zone Project, which is an initiative to train and empower young people in the technology sector.

At least 27 women and 4 boys have been kidnapped in Southern Kaduna by bandits.

Leading reporters gathered that this was disclosed by the women’s wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) in a statement on Monday.

SOKAPU National Women Coordinator Mrs Jemutu Katarma said hundreds of villages in Southern Kaduna have been sacked and some taken over by bandits, while many people have been rendered homeless.

Katarma also said that the bandits have been targeting women and children and that one of the kidnapped women, Kauna Ali, had died in captivity.

“Of particular note, we want to bring to the attention of His Excellency, Gov Uba Sani about a terrible development that happened to his citizens on 2nd October, 2023 in Kachuwe, close to Sarkin Pawa in Niger State. After their villages suffered several invasions from bandits in Chikun, they decided to move to Kachuwe, which they thought was safer to start life all over again by farming,” Katarma said.

“Unfortunately, armed bandits stormed the village on 2nd October, 2021 and killed 13 male adults and a young girl. Among those killed is a grandfather (1) Baba Barda Kariya. The names of the rest are: (2) Ali Nariya, (3) Zakariya Nariya (4) Markus Nariya, (5) John Nariya and (6) Haruna Nariya. Others are: (7) Iko Ali, (8) Vincent Ali, (9) Amos Zakariya, (10) Habila Zakariya, (11) Smalis Markus, (12) Timothy John (13) Victor Markus and (14) Godiya Markus, the only female killed.”

“After committing the crime, they looted the village of foodstuffs and animals.

They then burnt down the village. They spared the lives of the old women and sick old men. Then they took away the following females and boys. Grace Ali 25 yrs, Kauna Ali. 22 yrs,. Murna Ali 18 yrs,Tera Ali 3 yrs, Rahila Shagari 18yrs,Sunday Zakaria 17yrs, Leonard Zakaria 10 yrs,Lucy Zakaria 11yrs., Blessing Zakaria 13yrs, Charles Haruna 10yrs,Tina Amos 27yrs, Desire Amos 7yr,Success Amos 3 and Yemi Benjamin 27yrs.”

“Let me sadly inform you, that Kauna Ali became very sick in the hands of the bandit last year. With no medical care, she died. We got the sad news from one of the kidnapped girls via a phone call from the bandits’ phone. No one knows where the corpse is as at today.”

“It is also important to note that Yemi Benjamin was heavy with her first pregnancy because she was newly married.

After they were kidnapped, the bandits made demands for a ransom.But they later refused to take the ransom. A month later, after Yemi Benjamin gave birth in the bush. They gave her the phone to call and inform her in-laws that she had a baby girl.”

“Also note that a 3 and 10-year-old boys were among those that were kidnapped and still with the bandits. It is now 12 months since it was heard from them. And it is 2 years on the 2nd October 2023 that they have been in the hands of their abductors.It is a very horrible experience for the relations of these captives to live day and night not knowing the fate of their love ones.”

“Again, on Saturday 7th October, 2023, in Chikuri village, in Chikun LGA, bandit entered Maikudi farms where villagers were working on portions of the farm that they rented from the owner. Bandits attacked the farm and kidnapped 14 women and a boy. Among the women is 54-year-old Mrs Lydia Dogara and her 20-year-old daughter, Linda Dogara.”

“Therefore, we can confirm that at least 27 women and girls and 4 boys who are citizens of Kaduna state from Chikun LGA are in the hands of kidnappers, with one already dead.They are however just some other victims that maybe also be suffering the same fate in the state.”

Katarma appealed to the Kaduna State government under the leadership of Sen. Uba Sani to explore the excellent working relationship he enjoys with the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and other security chiefs to ensure the return of the women and children.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State has given Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu a three-day ultimatum to either resume at the Governor’s Office in Akure, or resign.

The youth wing of the party issued the ultimatum on Monday at the party’s secretariat in Akure, Ondo State capital, while protesting the continued absence of the governor.

Earlier, a team of security operatives comprising men of the Police, Department of State Services, DSS, and National Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, had cordoned off the PDP secretariat to prevent the protest from holding.

Akeredolu has not been seen in the state since his return from medical leave in Germany over four weeks ago.

According to one of the PDP youth leaders, Tayo Oluyi, the state can no longer bear what he described as ‘leadership vacuum’.

Oluyi said, “We are saying Mr Governor must resume back to duty. He can no longer govern us by proxy, we can no longer be hearing that he’s one thing or the other when we’ve not sighted him.

We know the governor we have, if he’s truly fit, we would have sighted him in the streets of Akure.

“The youth wing of the party is giving Mr Governor the next 24 hours to address the people of Ondo State and we are giving him three days ultimatum to resume back to the state.

“We are giving him three days ultimatum to address us and if he fails, we as the opposition party will occupy the streets of Akure and we will continue to demand that he either resume or resign.”

Women Affairs Minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has threatened to sue the United Nations (UN) over alleged financial mismanagement.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, September 16, the minister claimed that the UN had been receiving monies from donors on behalf of Nigerians.

“I stand here as the minister of women affairs to demand from all the UN of the account of all the monies they sourced from donors in Nigeria’s name,” the minister said.

“We want to see the account of what they did. If you don’t give us this account, at least let Nigerians see what’s going on, then you [UN] apologize to them.

“If we don’t get that report between now and November 15, we’re heading to court,” she declared.

Leading reporters gathered that Kennedy-Ohanenye was one of the APC presidential aspirants who stepped down for Tinubu during the party’s primary in Abuja in the buildup to the 2023 elections.

A former Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) president, Mustafa Shehu, has been elected president of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO).

Shehu, a former president of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO), was elected at the ongoing General Assembly of the World Engineering Summit in San Jose, Costa Rica.

He polled 67 out of 71 to become the first black African to win an election for the exalted office.

In a congratulatory message on its official X handle, the organisation wrote: “Congratulations to Engr. Mustafa B. Shehu, from Nigeria, who is the new president of WFEO.

“He’s a former president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Federation of African Engineering Organizations FAEO.”

Before this election as President-Elect, Shehu served as chairman of the Awards Committee, Member of Strategic Planning, Finance Committees, and Advisory Board for the WFEO President and Executive Vice President at WFEO.

In his policy brief, Shehu commended past presidents’ efforts and declared that WFEO must make an effort in helping to produce more engineers with the right skills through improved Engineering Education and Capacity Building towards accreditation of many countries with the International Engineering Alliance.

The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), Tola Odeyemi, has assumed office amidst strong opposition from aggrieved workers.

Leading reporters gathered that the controversy began after President Bola Tinubu dismissed Adeyemi Adepoju, who held the position of CEO/Post Master General, and appointed Odeyemi as his successor.

This decision was part of a broader leadership reshuffle affecting agencies and parastatals under the Ministry of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy.

The unrest peaked at NIPOST’s head office in Abuja, where dissatisfied workers opposed Odeyemi’s appointment.

They expressed concerns that Adepoju’s reforms, initiated in the past year, should be allowed to continue, believing that removing him would set NIPOST back.

However, Odeyemi has assumed her role, entering the office around 1 p.m. She immediately engaged in discussions with top Directors. She is said to have declined a chair offered to her, opting for a different seat.

Odeyemi’s appointment makes her the first female CEO in the history of NIPOST.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi as the mandate secretary of the newly created Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

This was contained in a statement by the FCTA via its X (Twitter) handle on Monday, October 16.

“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has approved the appointment of Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi as the Mandate Secretary for the newly created Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA),” the statement said.

President Bola Tinubu on Monday swore in three new ministers during the second Federal Executive Council held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The new cabinet members are Malam Balarabe Lawal from Kaduna State as Minister of Environment, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim from Kwara, Minister of Youths and Ayodele Olawande from Ondo, Minister of State for Youths.

The ministers were the three nominated by Tinubu to take charge of the newly created Ministry of Youths and a replacement for former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai.

The Ministry of Youth was formerly with the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.

El-Rufai was rejected during the Senate ministerial screening process when a member brought up a petition against him.

Tinubu, who is chairing the FEC meeting, took their oath of office and allegiance and took photographs with the new cabinet members.

The council also observed a minute silence for a former member of the cabinet, Late Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, former minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Ajose-Adeogun, who died on July 1 at the age of 96, was appointed the FCT Minister in 1976 by the Murtala Mohammed military administration and served in the position until 1979.

The inaugural meeting was held in August where new ministers attended to take their first brief from the executive arm on their roles and responsibilities in the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The FEC is a constitutional institution where government policies are discussed and endorsed by Ministers, with the President serving as the Chairman and the Vice President as the Vice Chairman.

At the August 29 FEC meeting, Tinubu unveiled an eight-point agenda to revive the country’s ailing economy.

He had said that the eight-point agenda was based on eight priority areas, with identified targets that would be delivered in the next three years.

These are food security; ending poverty, economic growth and job creation, access to capital, particularly consumer credit, inclusivity in all its dimensions, particularly as regards youths and women, improving security, improving the playing field on which people and particularly companies operate, rule of law, and of course, fighting corruption.