NEWS
Biden Congratulates Nigerian Leader on Inauguration

US President, Joe Biden has congratulated President Bola Tinubu on his inauguration, saying he looks forward to working with the new government of Nigeria.
While saying both Nigeria and the US have strong ties which dates several years back, Biden expressed his desire to strengthen the bond.
“On behalf of the people of the United States, I send warm wishes to the government and people of Nigeria as they inaugurate a new President,” Biden said in a statement yesterday on the White House website.
“My administration has worked to strengthen ties between the United States and Nigeria, and I look forward to continuing this work with President Tinubu to support economic growth, advance security, and promote respect for human rights.
”According to him, the connections between both countries “run particularly deep” and have been nurtured by a great Nigerian Diaspora in the US.
“As we further deepen our partnership with Nigeria, I look forward to drawing even more on the ideas and energy of this dynamic connection between our countries. As Africa’s largest democracy and economy, Nigeria’s success is the world’s success,” the US leader added.
“Elected leaders owe it to their people to show that democracy can deliver for their needs. And the United States will continue to work closely with Nigeria, as a friend and partner, to deliver a more peaceful and prosperous future for our world.”
“The Honorable Marcia L. Fudge, Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, will lead the delegation,” a White House statement read.
The entourage was among global dignitaries at Tinubu’s inauguration at Eagle Square in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
NEWS
Zamfara Govt. Returns 3,000 Rustled Animals to Rightful Owners

The Zamfara Government returned 3,000 rustled animals recovered by security forces to their rightful owners in the state in 15 months. Sheikh Sa’idu Maikwano, the Chairman of the Committee on the Verification of Recovered Rustled Animals, made this known at a meeting with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Malam Abubakar Nakwada.
The meeting was aimed at strategizing more effective and efficient ways for the success of the committee’s assignment, especially now that the security forces are recording successes courtesy of intensified offensive clearance operations across the state. The returned animals comprised of cows, sheeps and goats among others.The committee chairman commended the SSG for effective supervision of the committee.He also appreciated Gov Dauda Lawal for giving them all the necessary support which led to the success recorded.Sheikh Maikwano also said that the committee recovered N120 million from auctioned overstayed animals.He said the money was remitted into the state Zakkat Board account in line with the established rules and guidelines of the committee.Earlier, the SSG reiterated the government’s commitment to returning all rustled animals recovered by security forces to their rightful owners in the state.He commended the efforts of the committee for discharging its duty effectively.“Your assignment is very special and critical as it strives to give hope to the hopeless victims who lost their wealth to the heartless cattle rustlers, the SSG added.The SSG who supervises the committee, said the meeting was aimed at strategising more effective and efficient ways for the success of the committee’s assignment.He emphasized Gov. Lawal’s administration’s effort aimed at fostering community resilience and promoting social justice for amicable conflict resolution.(NAN)NEWS
Tinubu Seeks Confirmation of Chairman, MD, Board Members of NCDC

President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking the confirmation of the appointments of 19 persons as Chairman, Managing Director/CEO and Members of the Board of the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC).The Senate President Godswill Akpabio, read Tinubu’s letter during Thursday’s plenary.
The letter reads: “In accordance with the provisions of Part I, Section 2(2)(a) of the North-Central Development Commission (Establishment) Act, 2024…“I write to present, for confirmation by the Senate, in consultation with the House of Representatives, the appointments of the under-listed nineteen (19) persons as Chairman, Managing Director/CEO and Members of the Board of the North-Central Development Commission”. “They are Cosmas Akyhir Chairman, Benue, Tsenyil Yiltsen, Managing Director; Plateau, Dauda Kigbu, Member; Nasarawa, Zakari Jikantoro, Member; Niger.Others are Sulaiman Ali, member; Kogi, Rev. Bunmi Olusona, member; Kwara Dr Umar Mantu, member; Plateau, Atotse Abraham, member; Benue.“Solomon Adodo, member; FCT, Abdulkadir Usman, member ;North-West, Habu Mamman, member; North-EastDr Atinuke Owolabi, member; South-West.“Racheal Nse, member; South-South, Boniface Izziogu, member; South-East, James Uloko Executive Director, Benue, Atika Ajanah Executive Director, Projects;Kogi.“Hajiya Bilgis Sanni Executive Director, Kwara, Hajiya Aishatu Ibrahim Executive Director, Nasarawa and Muhammad Bashar Executive Director, Niger.”“While hoping that the request will receive the usual expeditious consideration of the Senate. please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.(NAN)NEWS
Akpabio to Peter Obi: Resolve the Small Party Crisis You Have

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, urged Peter Obi, the former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), to put his house in order and not make unnecessary comments on past leaders of the country.Akpabio stated this during a valedictory session held in honour of the late leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Pa Edwin Clark.
He was also reacting to a comment Obi made at an event saying that the efforts of Nigeria’s past leaders were in vain. “Those who are aspiring as presidential candidates to cause division with their mouths using the social media, tell them to resolve the small party crisis they have before they come to talk about the larger Nigeria.“I am saying this because I understand that just yesterday, one of the presidential aspirants, Peter Obi, said that the labours of our leaders who have passed on were in vain.“They were not in vain. The mere fact that Nigeria is still standing together shows clearly that their labours were not in vain.“Very few countries with the size of Nigeria are still together; today, many have been fragmented.“Edwin Clark lived through the days of the USSR. Nigeria in spite our difficulties, God has kept us together because of the voices of people like Pa Edwin clark. So clearly, his labour and labours were not in vain.“And for those in the social media, Nigeria has an unregulated social media system so let them wallow in it and then take this situation and propagate all sorts of falsehood and all sorts of narratives.“Some of them on social media were not even born when Pa Clark was very active in service and so they couldn’t have known some of the things he did that we are remembering today.“And yet when somebody makes a statement that the labour of our past leaders are in vain, I beg to disagree”.Akpabio added that let Obi show leadership, like Edwin Clark did by resolving first, the crisis in the Labour Party.“He has one of the the smallest parties in Nigeria and you cannot even resolve the crisis in that Labour Party”.(NAN)