NEWS
FG ‘ll Mobilise Stakeholders for Rapid Poverty Eradication – Bagudu

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen.
Abubakar Bagudu said all government agencies, particularly the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, will be mobilised to develop poverty reduction programmes that can attract private money and investment.Bagudu spoke during the Humanitarian Roundtable, organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in Abuja.
The minister informed the participants that lifting the populace out of poverty was a cardinal programme of President Bola Tinubu, noting that the administration would continue to work.
He said that the administration would continue to work with development partners and other stakeholders to ensure a massive reduction of people below the poverty line in the country.
“We are determined to support our hardworking people in participating meaningfully in the local economy to generate profitable and efficient activities that can give them the income they need to escape poverty. That is a model of humanitarian and poverty reduction that we are seeking to achieve,” he said.
NEWS
Gunmen Kill 11 Persons in Plateau

The police command in Plateau says gunmen have attacked Rubi community in Butura District in Bokkos Local Government and killed 11 persons.
Mr Alfred Alabo, the command’s spokesman made this known in a statement on Friday in Jos.
The Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC),also in a statement, confirmed that 11 persons were killed.
Alabo quoted Mr Emmanuel Adesina, the Commissioner of Police in the state, who visited the scene, as condemning the attack.
“On March 27, at about 10:00 p.m., we received a report of some gunmen who invaded Ruwi village at about 09:20 p.m. and began to shoot sporadically.
“As a result, some law-abiding citizens of the community who were at a wake-keep unfortunately lost their lives.
“Many others secured varying degrees of injuries.
“Immediately, the Commissioner of Police directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Bokkos to mobilise to the scene for necessary action,”he said.
To have first hand information on situation, Alabo said that the commissioner visited the scene and commiserated with those who lost their loves ones.
Similarly, the Plateau government had condemned the incident and called on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.
Mrs Joyce Ramnap, the state Commissioner for Information, called on residents of the community not to take the law into their hands.Ramnap reiterated the state government’s commitment to security of lives and property of all citizens of the state.(NAN)
NEWS
Tinubu Moves to Strengthen River Basin Authorities, Approves new Appointments

President Bola Tinubu has approved new appointments to strengthen the leadership of River Basin Development Authorities under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
At the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, Abeokuta, Mr Sowade Adebayo will replace Mr Julius Oloro as the Executive Director of Engineering Services, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman, said in a statement on Friday.
At the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority, Mr Chucks Erhire steps into the role of Executive Director of Engineering Services, succeeding Dr Austin Izagbo.
The president also appointed Mr Sunday Hassan as the Executive Director of Planning at the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, replacing Mr Chris Tarka.
Mr Okibe Timothy retains his current position as the Executive Director of Engineering at the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority.
The president urged the appointees to uphold the highest standards of integrity and performance as they work to improve water management and rural development for the benefit of all Nigerians.(NAN)
NEWS
Stanbic IBTC Holdings to Pay Shareholders N38.87 bn as Dividend in 2024

Stanbic IBTC Holdings has announced plans to pay N38.87 billion in dividends to its shareholders for the financial year ended Dec.
31, 2024.This is a 36.3 per cent surge from N28.505 billion paid to its shareholders in 2023.
The company disclosed this in a corporate disclosure through the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.
, on Friday.The disclosure reads “A Final Dividend of N3.
00 per ordinary share of 50 kobo each, that is N38,870,991,489.00“Subject to deduction of appropriate withholding tax and approval will be paid to shareholders whose names appear in the Register of members at the close of business on Friday 11 April 2025.
“This is in addition to the Interim Dividend of N2.
00 paid in September 2024, thus bringing the total of 2024 dividend to N5.00.“The Register of Shareholders will be closed from Monday 14 April to Friday 18 April 2025.
“On Friday May 16, 2025, dividends will be paid electronically to shareholders whose names appear on the register as at the close of business on Friday April 11,
2025.
“It will be paid to those who have completed the e-dividend registration and mandated the Registrar to pay their dividends directly into their Bank accounts,” it said (NAN)