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North Central Christians Rally Support for Alia

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By David Torough, Abuja

Christian leaders of the North central under the auspices of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have expressed full confidence in the leadership of the Benue state governor, Rev. Fr.

Dr. Hyacinth Alia.The group which described Alia as an excellent example of good governance, made this known recently in Makurdi, the state capital during an interactive session with the governor.
Led by its Chairman, CAN, North-Central Zone, Rev. Dr. Samson Jonah, the group thanked the Governor for making the Christian community in the North central zone proud of one of theirs who is making a huge difference in leadership.
They said the developmental strides of the governor in the region is a glowing example of what a Christian in leadership should do which is in line with what the bible says “When the righteous is in authority, the people rejoice”In their various goodwill messages, the leaders lauded the achievements and developmental strides of the Governor from infrastructure, education, health, Agriculture, economy, youth and human capital development. They promised to continue to support his administration which they said was striving for progress, growth, and development.The group which also offered prayers for the Governor told him that they were looking up to him as their political leader in the North-Central.Governor Alia in his response charged the Christian group in North-Central to remain unified and continue to be good followers of what is right and truthful in the sight of God.He said their coming together should be a strong reminder of the cord that binds them, which should make the denominational varieties within its circles a source of strength rather than division. “Call it dogma, call it teaching, any form of name you want to give it, should rather bring us together”, Fr Alia said.The Governor also called on the Christian body in the North-Central to believe in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and continue to give him the necessary support he needs to make Nigeria truly a great nation, adding that all that he had achieved in Benue so far was through the instrumentality and support from President Tinubu.”I was fully convinced that Tinubu was the way to go, and I said no, we have to do this.He said while others were looking at the Muslim/Muslim ticket he was not looking at the religious aspect but at the personality; the capacity and the precedents that were set well before this time.Alia charged the people to remain in sync with development and be a symbol of hope for all people.He emphasised that the Christian community, which is the beacon of hope and window of salvation, must be in sync with development, with growth, with unity, and cohesion. “We must be a symbol of hope”, he said.Reacting separately, the Technical Adviser to the Benue state Governor on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Solomon Iorpev said that the North Central Christian leaders have by this gesture and statements given a resounding vote of confidence to Governor Hyacinth Alia.“This is a significant endorsement, as it shows that the Christian community in the region is fully behind the governor’s vision and leadership. The award by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) North-Central is a testament to Governor Alia’s commitment to good governance and his dedication to the welfare of the people.“This goes to show that Governor Alia’s achievements in Benue state are truly impressive and have gained recognition beyond the shores of the state and it’s no wonder that he’s being hailed as a shining example of good governance by the North central region. From infrastructure to education, health, agriculture, and youth development, the governor has made significant strides in transforming the state. His leadership style, which is characterized by a deep sense of compassion and a servant-like approach, has earned him the respect and admiration of the people he serves.According to Iorpev, “One very outstanding and key area where Governor Alia has made huge and significant impact is in the area of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The governor has launched a five-year action plan to support IDPs in Benue, which is aimed at providing them with dignified emergency shelters and sustainable livelihoods. This plan is a testament to the governor’s commitment to the welfare of the people, and it’s clear that he’s dedicated to finding lasting solutions to the IDP crisis.“The governor’s plan has already started to yield results, with the successful relocation of IDPs from the Baka camp to temporary housing along the Makurdi – Gbajimba Road. This is a significant step towards fulfilling the governor’s promise to repatriate IDPs to their ancestral lands, and it’s clear that he’s making good on his word.“His commitment to the IDP crisis is not just limited to providing them with shelter and livelihoods. He’s also working to address the root causes of the crisis, which is a key aspect of his administration’s policy. By working to address the underlying issues that have led to the displacement of people, the governor is helping to create a more stable and secure environment for all citizens.The Technical Adviser emphasized that “A critical look at the governor’s message to the Christian community in the North-Central region clearly shows one of unity and cohesion. He urged them to remain united and to continue to be good followers of what is right and truthful in the sight of God. He also called on them to believe in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which is a clear indication of his commitment to the president’s vision for Nigeria. By throwing his weight behind the president’s agenda, Governor Alia is demonstrating his willingness to work with the federal government to achieve common goals.“The governor’s message of unity and cohesion in a region that has been plagued by division and strife is a breath of fresh air. His commitment to working with others to achieve common goals is evident in everything he does, and his dedication to the welfare of the people is clear.”Governor Alia is a man of strong conviction and principle, and he’s not afraid to take tough decisions when necessary. His commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu is a testament to his willingness to work with others to achieve common goals, and his dedication to the welfare of the people is evident in everything he does.“The truth is Governor Hyacinth Alia is a shining example of good governance in Nigeria. His commitment to the welfare of the people, his leadership style, and his achievements in Benue state are all testaments to his dedication to the people he serves. The fact that he’s been presented with two awards of honour is a significant indication of his growing influence in the region, and it’s clear that he’s ready to take on the challenge of leading the Christian community in the North-Central region.“As the governor continues to work towards achieving his vision for Benue state, it’s clear that he’s making good progress. His commitment to the IDP crisis, his leadership style, and his achievements in the state are all evidence of his dedication to the people. With his strong conviction and principle, Governor Alia is a leader who is worthy of emulation, and his example is one that should be followed by other leaders in Nigeria.As Governor Alia continues to make waves in Benue state, it’s clear that his future in politics is bright. He has the support of the Christian community, and his achievements are being recognized across the region. With his commitment to good governance and his dedication to the welfare of the people, Governor Alia is poised to become a major player in Nigerian politics.“His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia was presented with two awards of honour: from the CAN, North Central Zone as “Pillar of Excellence and Good Governance in Nigeria” and the other from Arewa Youth as “Garkuwan Matasan Arewa/ Vanguard of Good Leadership and Epitome of Peace,” Iorpev said.

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DBN Signs $61m Credit Deal With AfDB, Unveils Support Initiative Report

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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) has launched DAWN: DBN Action for Women in Nigeria, unveiled its Impact Report and presented MSME Data Assets at the seventh edition of Annual Lecture held in Abuja.

DBN, in a statement on Thursday, said while delivering a welcome address, its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tony Okpanachi, said the central challenge was no longer reforms themselves but ensuring benefits reach businesses at end of the chain.

He asked how to make sure benefits reach traders in Onitsha, fabricator in Aba, farmer in Kebbi and young founder in Yaba, noting that MSMEs accounted  for about half of Nigeria’s GDP and more than eight in every ten jobs, adding that when reform works for MSMEs it works for most Nigerians.

He explained that reform becomes prosperity only when entrepreneurs can act on it whether through long tenor loans to buy equipment, banks willing to take risk or skills and records needed to grow.

He said working through Participating Financial Institutions DBN provides longer term funding, partial credit guarantees through subsidiary Impact Credit Guarantee Limited and capacity building including Entrepreneurship Training Programme.

He disclosed that as at December 2025 DBN had disbursed a cumulative N1.4 trillion to MSMEs through 84 Participating Financial Institutions creating about 1.6 million jobs nationwide.

Under the new five year strategy, the Bank aims to reach more than two million MSMEs with deliberate targets for women led businesses, youth led businesses and underserved states.

On DAWN, Okpanachi said finance alone had not enabled enough women-led businesses to scale.

He said initiative brings together financing, guarantees and credit support, technical assistance, outcome linked grants and market linkages delivered through banks, microfinance institutions, fintechs, aggregators, cooperatives and direct channels.

Its priority sectors are agriculture and exports, healthcare, arts and creatives, technology and green business.

He said DAWN is about moving gender focused lending beyond intention and turning access into opportunity.

On the sidelines of the lecture DBN and African Development Bank held a signing ceremony of AfDB DBN 61 million United States dollars Gender Line of Credit development that reinforces Bank commitment to women led enterprises.

Okpanachi urged Participating Financial Institutions to extend lending into sectors and states where access to finance has been limited, policymakers and regulators to measure reform by what changes for business at end of chain and MSMEs to formalise, keep good records and use support now available.

The Vice President as Special Guest of Honour was represented by Dr Fred Iklaga Senior Technical Adviser in the Office of Special Adviser to the President on Economy.

Keynote speakers were Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Dr Karl Toriola, and Chairman of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Dr Segun Ogunsanya.

Fireside chat featured Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Abubakar Suleiman, manufacturing and trade entrepreneur Mrs Omoyemi Chukwurah and by video Kola Masha of Babban Gona.

The Secretary to the Government of Federation, represented by Augusta Warren Bekaredebo, said 2026 tax reforms would bring relief to many small businesses expressing optimism that a lot of businesses will be smiling by next year because they will be exempted from tax.

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NLC Threatens Nationwide Action as Talks With FG Collapse

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By Tambaya Julius, Abuja 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened possible nationwide industrial action following the failure of talks with the Federal Government over workers’ welfare, petrol prices and other outstanding labour demands.

The warning came after a meeting between the government and organised labour at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, ended without an agreement.

The congress has given the Federal Government until Tuesday, October 27, to make meaningful progress on the issues, warning that its relevant organs would decide the next line of action if the next meeting fails to produce concrete commitments.

The NLC has also directed its affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to begin mobilising members for possible nationwide action.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, expressed disappointment over what he described as the government delegation’s lack of preparedness for the negotiations.

According to the congress, organised labour presented its demands in good faith but left the meeting without any concrete commitments from the government.

The demands include a reduction in petrol prices to 2024 levels, renegotiation of the national minimum wage, implementation of agreed tax relief measures and resolution of the terms of settlement involving the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

The congress also called for the resolution of issues raised by the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) over peculiar allowances, wage awards and hazard allowances.

The NLC said the government delegation lacked the necessary authority to engage meaningfully on the issues presented by labour representatives.

“The meeting between the Federal Government and organised labour, convened at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on 22nd October 2026, has ended without resolution,” the statement said.

It added that the Minister of Labour requested that the meeting be adjourned until October 27 to allow the government to prepare adequately for further discussions.

The preparations, according to the statement, would include bringing relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies to the negotiating table.

The congress said it remained open to dialogue but would not accept continued delays in addressing workers’ concerns.

“We will report back to our organs, and if no meaningful progress is made on Tuesday, the relevant organs of the NLC will decide the next line of action,” it said.

The labour body urged workers and members of the public to remain calm while the negotiations continue, even as it directed its affiliates and allies to prepare for possible industrial action.

“However, we urge all affiliates of NLC and TUC; all state councils and our civil society allies to be alert and start mobilising for a possible action across the nation while we hope that the tenets of our demands are met by the government,” the statement added.

The October 27 meeting is expected to provide another opportunity for both sides to address the outstanding issues and prevent a possible escalation of the dispute.

However, the NLC’s decision to begin mobilisation suggests that tensions could rise if the next round of talks fails to produce meaningful progress.

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Election Campaigns: FRSC Bars Officers from Politicians’ Escort

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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has barred its personnel from escorting politicians during campaigns for the 2027 general elections.

Zonal Commanding Officer, RS6, ACM Abimbola Owolabi, gave the directive during her maiden visit to the Cross River Command in Calabar on Wednesday.

Owolabi said patrol vehicles and sirens must not be used for political activities or private engagements, including weddings and funeral processions.

She directed officers deployed to campaign venues to focus exclusively on traffic management to prevent congestion and road crashes.

The zonal head warned personnel against leading political convoys or providing escorts for politicians, stressing that official vehicles must not be used for unauthorised purposes.

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