From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shaibu Abubakar Audu has begun mobilization of grassroots support for President Tinubu’s re-election and hailed his bold reforms and development strides in the last two years of his administration.

The Minister gave the commendation while speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders interactive session in Kogi which he hosted at his country home in Ogbonicha, Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State.

According to him, the session was aimed at highlighting the remarkable achievements of President Bola Tinubu and mobilising grassroots support for his re-election bid in 2027.

The Minister expressed the President’s determination to resolve Nigeria’s pressing challenges, grow the economy, improve the welfare of citizens, and deliver dividends of democracy across the country.

He noted that the impact of the “Renewed Hope” agenda is already being felt at the grassroots, citing examples such as the recent drop in the prices of some staple foods. The Minister urged constituents to remain optimistic and expect even greater progress in the coming years, particularly with the re-election of President Tinubu.

“In just two years, Mr. President has shown strong political will and commitment to transform Nigeria. State FAAC allocations have increased significantly, and Kogi State has directly benefited from this boost”. Prince Audu stated.

On developments within the steel sector, Prince Audu reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Plant. He revealed that the current administration under his leadership signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) of the plant and is also extending the search for private investors to China which marks a significant step forward towards its resuscitation.

“The gathering is to have a meeting with my constituents to update and brief them on the performance of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the past two years. “The president has performed tremendously well; every politician is local. So, I came to my constituents to brief them.

“And as you can see, they are extremely delighted with the feedback they got. The employment opportunities Mr. President has created most of the job opportunities, they are feeling the impact of Mr. President.

“And I am confident that when we get to 2027, we will deliver the votes en masse to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu is Kogi, and Kogi is Tinubu. That is why Mr President appointed me as a Minister of the Federal Republic from Kogi State to oversee the rehabilitation of Ajaokuta.

“We are doing a tremendous job. The journey has started, and we will be able to turn to Ajaokuta and deliver results very quickly,” Prince Audu said.

In his remarks, Joshua Onoja, State Secretary of the APC, commended the Minister for convening the session and reaffirmed the party’s total support for the re-election of President Tinubu. He assured that the Kogi APC remains united and committed to President Tinubu’s success.

Also speaking, Kogi State Women Leader of the APC, Hajiya Hauwa Aduku urged the constituents on undivided loyalty to President Tinubu“. There should be no vote for any other party from Kogi East,” she declared.

The House of Assembly Member, Representing Ofu/Idah Federal Constituency Hon. Saidu Ahmadu Baryoil also lauded the minister’s leadership and reiterated the loyalty of Kogi East to the APC. “The APC in Kogi State was birthed by the late Prince Abubakar Audu. Today, you are walking in his footsteps. Kogi East stands firmly with you and with President Tinubu.”

During the event, Prince Audu was presented with a Humanitarian Award by Arise Igala Magazine in recognition of his selfless service and contributions to the development of the Igala nation.

The well-attended stakeholders meeting brought together APC chieftains, Executive Chairmen, party stalwarts, the forum of Local Government Chairmen and Secretaries, Councilors from across Kogi East, current and former members of the Kogi State House of Assembly, the Audu/Faleke Support Group, and representatives from Kogi Central and West, as well as a massive crowd of enthusiastic party supporters.

From Jude Dangwam, Jos

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang has reiterated his administration’s commitment to addressing the real needs of the people, focusing on tangible impacts that deliver people-oriented governance under divine guidance.Mutfwang, who spoke on Sunday during a Pentecost Sunday Service held at St.

Luke’s Cathedral in Jos, acknowledged the security challenges facing some communities, describing them as distractions. The governor emphasised that insecurity remains a serious concern, but believes it’s a distraction from the core issue of poverty.He stressed that poverty is the root challenge that needs to be tackled with determination and a multi-dimensional approach, particularly through agriculture.Mutfwang highlighted agriculture as a key sector that holds great promise for transformation and lifting people out of poverty.The governor said, “We will continue to trust God as we strive to do our best in the service of Plateau State. We are fully aware of the difficulties people are facing, and we are continually exploring sustainable ways to alleviate their suffering.“We know that things are not easy for many families, and the expectations are high. While not all of our efforts may yield immediate results, we are confident that we are on the right path by the grace of God.“For us on the Plateau, insecurity remains a serious concern, but I have always maintained that it is a distraction. The core issue we must confront is poverty. Our focus is on lifting our people out of poverty, particularly through agriculture, which holds great promise for transformation.”Mutfwang also revealed that plans are underway to return all missionary schools to their original owners, in line with the state’s commitment to educational revival.He commended St. Paul’s Academy for its outstanding academic performance, notably when one of its students recently emerged as the second-best candidate in the JAMB examination nationwide.He called on citizens to join hands with the government in tackling the state’s challenges, emphasising the need for collective responsibility to drive Plateau State forward.In his sermon titled “The Power of Pentecost,” the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Jos, Rt. Rev. Dr. Ephraim J. Gongden emphasised the indispensability of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer.He urged Christians to live out the fruits of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives.The Church commended Mutfwang for initiating and implementing impactful programs that have improved the lives of citizens.They assured him of their continued prayers and support as he steers the affairs of the state.

Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group, Dr Umaru Kwairanga, says the Nigerian Capital Market has experienced exponential growth since he assumed office in 2022.He reiterated the group’s commitment to deepening Nigeria’s capital market in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of growing the nation’s GDP to one trillion dollars by 2030.

In a statement issued in Lagos, Kwairanga was said to have made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the “For the Love of Our Country (FLOC) 2025” symposium, held at Bayero University Kano (BUK) on Friday. He spoke on the theme, “Reimagining Nigeria’s Economy for a Prosperous Future: Where We Were, Where We Are, and Where We Should Be in the Next Decade”.According to him, the All Share Index (ASI) rose from 48,837 basis points to 111,742 basis points, while market capitalisation grew from N26.375 trillion to N70.463 trillion by May 2025.He said that bond markets were included with total market capitalisation now at over N121 trillion.“This growth shows that we have more than doubled the indices of both our equity and bond markets in just over two years.“However, our goal is even more ambitious as we work towards making the capital market central to achieving a $1 trillion economy,”he said.Kwairanga emphasised the strategic importance of a robust capital market in financing long-term infrastructure, encouraging formalisation of businesses, and mirroring the nation’s true economic potential.He noted with concern that Nigeria’s market capitalisation remains less than 20 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, compared to South Africa’s Johannesburg Stock Exchange which exceeds its national GDP.To address this, he outlined several initiatives being undertaken by NGX Group and its regulators, particularly the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to enhance market transparency and efficiency.He said these include the dematerialisation of share certificates, resolution of unpaid dividend backlogs, and the recent reduction in clearing time for secondary market transactions to T+2.“We are working closely with regulators and stakeholders to make our market more accessible and attractive.”He said that major listings in the oil and gas sector, such as the planned sale of a stake in NNPC Ltd. and the anticipated listing of Dangote Petrochemicals, would significantly boost market capitalisation.He also spoke on digital innovation as a key driver of market participation, citing the launch of NGX Invest, a digital platform for primary market offers and financial literacy campaigns targeting youths, students, and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).The chairman revealed the ongoing engagements with institutional investors such as pension fund administrators and mutual funds.He also hinted on the development of sophisticated products like exchange-traded funds, derivatives, and ethical investment instruments.He highlighted efforts to integrate African capital markets through cross-border linkages that would allow investors in Nigeria to trade shares listed on exchanges in countries like Ghana and vice versa.In spite challenges such as declining disposable income, infrastructural deficits, and global economic headwinds, Kwairanga expressed optimism that these could be surmounted.“We are confident that Nigeria will have the broader, deeper, and more sophisticated capital market it deserves before the end of this decade,”he said. (NAN)