NEWS
Education Gets Highest Allocation from Nasarawa’s N199.9bn Budget Propdailyosal

From Joseph Hans Apuu, Lafia
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has presented the 2024 budget proposal of N199.9 billion to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The Acting Speaker of the State Assembly, Abel Yakubu Bala while receiving the budget in Lafia assured Sule and the people of the state of giving the budget accelerated passage.
The governor said that the budget, if passed into law would complete the ongoing projects and existing ones with more to be initiated for the overall development of the State.
Sule said that his administration would continue to anchor on transparency, accountability and rule of law as well as transparency for the overall development of the state.
The governor tagged the 2024 Budget as “Budget of Renewed commitment”.
“I am delighted to lay before you a total budget size of N199, 879, 370,709.43 for the 2024 fiscal year.
“Recurrent Expenditure- A total of N112, 925,350,954.18 representing 56 % of the total budget is earmarked for Recurrent Expenditure.
“Capital Expenditure- The sum of N86, 954,019,755.50 representing 44% of the total budget is set aside as Capital Expenditure for the year 2024,” Sule said.
The Budget for the various sectors is as follows: Administrative Sector: Education- N41.9bn, Health N27.5bn, Environment N5.5bn, Local Government N6.3bn, Finance N13.1bn, Trade and Investment N3.8bn, Ministry of Science and Technology N1.7bn, Ministry of Works- N22.7bn, Water Resources N4.1bn, Lands and Urban Development N8.6bn, State Assembly N4.3bn and Information, Culture and Tourism N 2.6bn.
Sule assured the assembly and the people of the State of full implementation of the budget, if finally passed into law.
He said that his administration has prioritized infrastructural development in order to improve on the standard of living of the people of the State.
Sule also said that his administration has employed 3,500 secondary school teachers for quality education in the state.
He said that his administration has absorbed casual staff into permanent and pensionable appointments.
Responding, the Acting Speaker appreciated Sule for good presentation of the budget.
Abel congratulated Sule over his well deserved meritorious elevation to the status of Fellow, Nigeria Society of Engineers.
He commended Sule for his transparency and fiscal financial discipline.
“Your Excellency, during the oversight function, preliminary reports indicate that since the creation of Nasarawa State, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has never been high and above projection.
“Infrastructural development have also received a boost and to this, we commend you most sincerely,” he said.
The Acting Speaker appreciated Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the former Speaker of the House for his remarkable achievements in the passage of many bills and resolutions in the last eight years and six months.
He reassured that the 2024 Appropriation Bill would be given expeditious action to get it passed into law before Dec. 31.
NEWS
Nigeria Condoles India over Tragic Plane Crash

The Federal Government on Thursday condoled the Indian government over the tragic crash of Air India Flight-171 in Ahmedabad.The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed this in a statement issued by Kimiebi Ebienfa, Spokesperson of theMinistry.Tuggar said, “Nigeria expresses profound sorrow and extends its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of India over the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.
“This devastating incident which claimed the lives of over 290 individuals has left the global community in mourning. “Nigeria stands in solidarity with India during this period of immense grief and unfortunate loss.“While initial reports indicate no Nigerian citizen was aboard the flight, the Nigeria High Commission in New Delhi remains in close contact with Indian authorities to verify this information and provide consular assistance where necessary.“In this moment of shared sorrow, Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to global aviation safety and supports the call for thorough investigation into the crash with a view to preventing such tragedies in the future.”The minister further commiserated with the families of the bereaved and all those affected by this tragic incident. (NAN)NEWS
Benue Speaker Advises Youth to Participate Actively in Politics

The Speaker, Benue House of Assembly, Mr Hyacinth Dajoh, has advised youths in the state to participate actively in the economic and political development of the country.Dajoh gave the advice in his Democracy Day message issued by his Press Secretary, Mr Terver Zamber, in Makurdi.
The speaker urged youths to show more interest in the economic and political development of the country. He said that they had the required education, exposure, and numerical strength to make a positive impact on both the economy and governance. Dajoh assured the youths that the assembly under his leadership would continue to enact laws to protect democracy and the rule of law.The speaker urged Nigerians to be more determined in ensuring that democracy worked in the country.He said that democracy remained the best option for the country.The speaker added that through the determination of the citizens and their active participation in the democratic process, Nigeria would be a great country.He saluted the heroic deeds of patriots who worked assiduously to actualise democratic rule in the country, especially the symbol of the June 12 struggle, the late M.K.O. Abiola.According to him, only a truly great, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria could be a befitting compensation for their sacrifices.He commended President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue for their roles in upholding democratic principles.Dajoh said that more sacrifices were required from the citizens to ensure that the country got the best of democracy. (NAN)NEWS
Cross River Communities Resume Hostility with More Casualties

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
There is another round of hostility arising from communal skirmishes between two brotherly communities of Etono 2 and Biakpan in Biased Local Government Are of Cross River State.The resumption of hostilities happened some days ago when youths from Etono 2 were alleged to have attacked and killed a visitor to Biakpan and another youth whose identity was not immediately known.
Before then there were reports that nearly 50 persons had been killed on both sides. In the latest resurgence, a source said, “Sporadic shootings were heard on Monday and Tuesday inside Biakpan. A few persons have been killed.”State security adviser Southern district, Patrick Odion told our correspondent that he has his men on ground to calm the situation.Recall that about three weeks ago, Commissioner of Police in the state, Olusegun Omosanyin summoned the two sides to his Headquarters in Calabar and cautioned them.The police commissioner had disclosed how there was massive arms buildup by the two communities and said he would launch police action to retrieve the arms from them.He had expressed anger that the two sides had earlier refused to appear before him three times when he summoned them, adding that he had also dispatched his key officers to the two communities.Following the resumption of the hostilities, the police commissioner again met with the leadership of Biase LGA in his office.He assured that he would mobilize his men today to Biakpan and Etono 2 to quell the uprising.When DAILY ASSET spoke with some concerned stakeholders from the two communities they lamented that often when police and soldiers sent to douse tensions would leave, hostilities would resume soon after.A youth leader from Etono 2 who gave his name as Egwu Jerry, lamented, “The presence of the security men usually give us confidence but once they leave, our safety is no longer guaranteed. We’re few compared with those from Biakpan.”He also lamented that they do not have access road elsewhere than the one into Biakpan which reason, their adversaries usually encircle and easily attack and kill them.But a chief from Biakpan who gave his name as Onun Ekpezu alleged that Etono people were too aggressive and violent, and have destroyed their important properties and farms, and have killed their people and visitors.”Because of these, our youths have positioned themselves to defend our women and properties”, Ekpezu said.