Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to Africa’s economic development with a fresh 500 million dollars contribution to the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF).Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, made the announcement at the official signing of agreement at the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings 2025 at Abidjan on Thursday.

Edun said the gesture was a strong signal of Nigeria’s leadership in supporting low-income African countries. He also used the opportunity to pay tribute to the outgoing AfDB President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, whom he praised for steering the Bank to new heights over the past decade.“We congratulate and felicitate with Dr Adesina on a most successful tenure of ten years.“He raised the international profile and public persona of the AfDB, putting it firmly on the world stage,” he said.On the renewed commitment to the Trust Fund, Edun disclosed that Nigeria would inject 500 million dollars into the NTF over time and had extended the fund’s tenure to 2040.“We know it is a poll of funds to help the less developing countries among us. We are all developing countries.“We are all striving to achieve the reduction of poverty and improvement of our lives and people and indeed the industrialisation and modernisation of our economy. We must try not to leave anyone behind,” he said. Left to right; Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Dr Akinwunmi Adesina,Presidnt of AfDB during the ceremony in Abidjan o Thursday. The minister said that while all African countries were striving for progress, some face greater challenges than others.“The NTF is there to help the least stable among us, and Nigeria is proud to provide that leadership to Africa and to be an integral part of the AfDB,” he said.According to him, the renewed commitment is aligned with Nigeria’s development priorities, which include poverty reduction, economic modernisation, and industrialisation.He emphasised that no African country should be left behind in the collective push for prosperity.Responding to the gesture, Adesina commended Nigeria’s bold step and described it as a model of leadership in a time of urgent development needs.“The 500 million dollars you have committed to the AfDB for the NTF will allow us to do balance sheet optimisation.” It will provide hybrid capital, and mobilise more private capital for many low-income countries,” Adesina stated.He added that expanding access to capital was crucial for these nations to grow their private sectors and reduce their debt burdens through more sustainable financing models“Nigeria again is doing the right thing and showing the right leadership and commitment to the low-income countries in Africa,” he said.The Nigeria Trust Fund, managed by the AfDB, was created to provide concessional financing for projects and programmes in low-income African countries.With the latest replenishment, the Fund is expected to continue playing a critical role in strengthening development outcomes across the continent. Report says that NTF was created in 1976 by agreement between the AfDB and the Nigerian Government.The Fund is a self-sustaining revolving fund and its objective is to assist the development efforts of the Bank’s low-income regional member countries whose economic and social conditions and prospects require concessional financing.The NTF resources can co-finance operations with the AfDB and the African Development Fund (ADF), as well as fund stand-alone operations in both the public and private sector.Supplementary loans for Bank Group financed projects can also be considered.Unlike the African Development Fund, NTF resources are allocated to projects, and not to countries. (NAN)

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, lambasted the six area councils in FCT, over the three months ongoing strike by Primary School Teachers, saying ‘denying children education is like trying to say, that you are causing a coup in the country or in FCT’.

The FCT Minister stated this in Abuja, after inspecting ongoing projects in Apo-Wassa, the interchange at Kubwa expressway, and Daki biyu. He therefore tasked the National Assembly (NASS), to intervene on the impasse.He also assured the teachers and the children that have been at home for over 16 weeks, tgat it will be resolved very soon and would return to their classes. He noted that it is time for Chairman House Committee and Senate committee on FCT Area Councils to investigate the problems in the area councils. According to the Minister, “I don’t know what you mean by too powerful. All I would say is they were elected and they were not appointed. So we have been talking to them to understand that, this is democracy, one thing you must know is that denying people education is like trying to say that you are causing a coup in the country or in FCT. “Be assured that everything is being done to see that the teachers go back. “But you see, the problem we have, just like what you’ve said, we have committees of the FCT, the House of Reps, and the Senate. We have chairman of the area councils. The chairman of committees of area councils, their responsibility is to oversee what the area councils are doing because the legislature of the FCT today is the National Assembly. “That is what the chairman of House Committee of the National Assembly has to look at the problem in the area councils. But it’s unfortunate they concentrate in just inviting minister to come and defend budget. I have never seen in my life where the minister has defended a budget and another House Committee chairman of area councils will tell another minister of State to come and present a budget”.

He lamented, “People don’t do what they’re supposed to do. They concentrate on things that do not fall within their jurisdiction. By now, I thought that the chairman of the FCT area councils would have come up to say, chairmen of area councils, this is not right. What do we need to solve this problem? But they will focus on irrelevant things, trying to see how there’s division, there’s discord in the FCT”. He therefore assured thatvery soon, this problem would be sorted out, “nobody can feel happy when the teachers are at home. It is the basic thing that we must do and I can assure you very soon that matter will resolved”. Wike reiterated his commitment in ensuring that Abuja residents get the best from the ongoing projects in Abuja. “Frankly speaking, like I have always said, the people of Abuja deserve the best, and the contractors are doing their best. I can assure you that. For me, there cannot be anything less. As Mr. President has said before, Nigeria deserves the best, and we will do everything we can to make sure that we give them the best”. On assessment of 2nd year anniversary of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, he said the President has done well. “The assessment, if you have to take, for example, from the FCT, where I superintend by his mandate, you know that Mr. President has done very, very well. He’s unprecedented. You know the problem we have in this country is that even if you don’t like somebody as a person, the moment he does good things, you should say yes, I’m not in good terms with him, I don’t like him. However, he’s doing well or he has done well”.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has presented 31 brand new operational vehicles to service commanders of security agencies in the state. The formal hand over ceremony of the vehicles took place on Thursday in Government House, Yenagoa, after the 38th state security council meeting.

Governor Diri said the state government procured the vehicles to enhance the day-to-day operations of the agencies in the fight against crime in the state. He said: “It was a recurring decimal during our security council meetings for security commanders to request for vehicular support. Today, we are gladly able to put this to rest. “On behalf of your government, I present these 31 operational vehicles to the service commanders. The Nigeria Police has five and one for the commissioner’s office to make it six. The Directorate of State Services has four, including that for the state director. “The Nigerian Army has three and one for the Brigade Commander. Same for the Nigerian Navy while the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has three. “The Nigerian Air Force, Federal Road Safety Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Correctional Services and the Nigeria Immigration Service all have two each.” While charging the service commanders to redouble their effort in tackling crime, Governor Diri urged them to ensure good maintenance of the vehicles. Responding on their behalf, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sunday Idu, appreciated the governor’s gesture, saying it will accelerate their effort and boost their capacity to fight crime. The police chief assured that the security agencies would collaborate with the state government to deepen the rule of law and governance in the state. In the same vein, Gov Douye Diri, has also assured the family of slain 26-year-old Daniel Ayama that the state government will ensure they get justice. Governor Diri gave the assurance on Wednesday when he visited the family over the killing of the fresh graduate of the Federal University, Otuoke, on May 16 at the INEC Junction in Yenagoa, the state capital. The family claimed policemen were responsible for his death while the police authorities in the state said he was a victim of cult groups rivalry. Senator Diri, who commiserated with the family at their residence in Kpansia, Yenagoa, said a thorough investigation will be conducted to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death.

The governor said the state’s Special Committee on Security and Human Rights Violations has commenced investigation into the matter and directed the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) to be involved in the probe. He said: “For now there are two sides to the report of Daniel Ayama’s murder and government will not take sides. Government is not interested in whether the police was allegedly responsible or it was a case of cult-related shooting. “I know we have a Commissioner of Police that is responsible, apolitical, and has been maintaining peace and security in the state. But once you have this kind of report, the police need to step aside. “This is a case of shooting and we want our law enforcement agencies to be strictly professional. It is sad to hear this type of allegation against a professional body that is expected to ensure peace and security of lives.” The state’s helmsman also said that government had taken over the treatment of three other victims that sustained gunshot injuries during the incident and prayed God to grant the Ayama family the fortitude to bear the loss of their son. Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Smart Ayama expressed gratitude to the governor and his entourage for the visit. Mr. Ayama said there were protests following the incident but that the family decided against further demonstration as it would not bring back their son. He however called for justice to be done on the matter.