NEWS
Kogi, China Expand Business Relations, as State Govt Targets N591bn IGR
The Kogi State Government and the Chinese Government on Thursday set the stage for the expansion of business relations, just as the state aimed at N591 billion annual Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) soon.
The foundation for the renewed collaboration was laid at a dialogue on industry and trade between Kogi and Chinese entrepreneurs, co-hosted by Gov.
Yahaya Bello of Kogi and the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, at the Chinese Embassy in Abuja.Addressing the entrepreneurs, Bello said the Government of Kogi was ready to engage the Chinese business community to expand business and investment opportunities with China.
According to him, for both countries to make progress, there is a need for willingness, commitment, readiness and sincerity of both parties to collaborate on harnessing all the resources, both natural, human and otherwise, for the benefit of both countries and humanity in general.
Bello, who also said there was the political will to attain the desired collaboration, pointed out that he shared a lot of ideology with the people of China, politically and personally.
The governor said he was aware that tribes and religions exist in China, yet, the Chinese people were able to put all the differences behind them to have one common goal of coming together to harness all that are available within China.
He added that the Chinese people were able to achieve their goal successfully, politically, economically, and in terms of technology, noting that today, China had become one of the first two leading nations of the world.
Bello said that “I have that political will of putting all of our people together. That is why ever since I assumed office on 26th of January, 2016, I have been working tirelessly to ensure that I unite my people.
“To ensure that there is security of lives and livelihood of my people and everybody that wants to stay and live and earn in Kogi State, including Chinese and the various investments so far in the state.
“I have that political will to continue to engage China and the Chinese, to ensure that all the benefits that are available for us, we take the full benefits of them for our people.
“There are several areas we can engage ourselves. We have the institutional framework ready to engage and we have the authority to engage and get things done as quickly as possible.
“The people are our cardinal objective to serve. And I have given a blanket and an open approval to my people to engage the Chinese side on all fronts for the benefit of all of us,” Bello said.
Earlier, Cui recalled his recent visit to Kogi State, saying that Kogi State and China had so much in common.
He expressed delight that both the Chinese and Nigerian sides recognised development in deepening relations.
Cui expressed confidence that with the cooperation between the leadership of Bello in Kogi State and the Government of China in the coming years, a lot would be achieved, particularly in the area of power plants and nuclear energy.
On how the state intends to hit the target of about N591.6 billion IGR, Special Adviser to Kogi State Governor on Economy, Finance and Investment, Abdulkareem Siyaka, said that the state was actually getting less than 10 per cent of what it should get from the resources that it had.
According to him, N591.6 is the size of the IGR per annum if the state was able to put all the building blocks together.
“”The Chinese today have invited us and they are willing to invest in various sectors of our economy.
“If we expose our economy to more genuine development partners, within a year, I can assure you, we will be able to hit that target of about N591.6 billion, thereby reducing unemployment in the state,” he said.(NAN)
President Bola Tinubu has requested the Senate’s approval for the issuance of a N757 billion Federal Government bond to settle outstanding pension liabilities accrued as of Dec. 2023.Report says that Tinubu made the request in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, which was read at plenary on Tuesday.
In the letter, the president stated: “I write to request the approval of the National Assembly for the issuance of a Federal Government of Nigeria bond in the domestic debt market by the Debt Management Office (DMO). ”The bond is intended to settle pension liabilities under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as of Dec. 2023.Tinubu explained that the Pension Reform Act 2014 mandated setting aside five per cent of the nation’s monthly wage bill to clear past pension liabilities before the commencement of the CPS.“However, due to revenue challenges, Nigeria has struggled to comply fully with this provision, leading to an accumulation of pension arrears.“To address this, the government has decided to raise funds by issuing the bond in the domestic debt market.“The Federal Executive Council approved the bond issuance during its meeting on Feb. 4.”The president said the request aligned with Section 44(1)(2) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, which required National Assembly approval for all new federal government borrowings.He described the proposed bond as a vital investment in human capital development.“It will enable the federal government to meet its obligations under the CPS, restore confidence in the pension industry, and improve retirees’ welfare,” Tinubu said.He added that settling pension arrears would help retirees meet basic needs such as medication, rent, school fees, and other family expenses, thereby improving their health and reducing premature deaths.The president also noted that clearing pension liabilities would boost productivity, improve morale among public servants, and demonstrate the government’s commitment to fulfilling pension obligations.Furthermore, Tinubu said the settlement could stimulate aggregate demand, spur economic growth, and enhance liquidity in the economy.He acknowledged, however, that the bond issuance would increase Nigeria’s public debt stock and raise debt servicing costs.(NAN)
The Enugu State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ndubueze Mbah We will Capture Out-of-school Children in Our Education Programmes – Enugu Govt says the state government will redouble efforts to capture out-of-school children in its programme.
The commissioner gave the assurance on Tuesday in Enugu during the celebration of the 2025 Children’s Day held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
Mbah said that the state was working in collaboration with community and faith- based institutions to ensure that no child was neglected or forgotten.
He encouraged them to be calm as they were not forgotten noting that they would be remembered through inclusive education programmes.
Mbah said that education was their right adding that the present administration was committed to making it a reality for them.
He, however, said that every child irrespective of status, gender, location or ability was valued and their welfare would be taken into consideration.
He said that they deserved to grow in a safe, nurturing environment with opportunities to dream and become successful as this administration would continue to protect their rights, well-being, and empower them through education, healthcare, and innovation.
“As we celebrate international children’s day today, remember that you are the leaders of tomorrow.
“Let your voices be heard, your talents be seen, and your dreams shall come through.
“To our school children, we commend your efforts, resilience, and passion for learning. You are the builders of the Enugu State.
“Government investments in smart schools, teacher training, digital tools, and innovation are for you to be equipped with skills for a future that has already begun,” he said.
In the same vein, the Secretary to Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, encouraged every child in the state to remain focused and work hard to attain their desired goal.
Onyia said that with the introduction of Smart Schools in 260 political wards of the state, every child in the state would soon compete with their counterparts globally.
He emphasised that the administration had investment heavily in education sector to ensure that both privileged and non privileged children are equipped with basic skills and knowledge.
The event featured march past by various public and private primary and secondary schools in the state. (NAN)
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has bursted a fake drug factory in an uncompleted three storey building at Azagba Ogwashi in Aniocha LGA in Delta.The NAFDAC Director, South – East Zone, Dr Martins Iluyomade disclosed this at a press briefing in Asaba on Tuesday.
He said that the agency would consider the option of seizing any building used for illicit drug manufacturing and relabelling of expired drugs. ”I feel very sad for our country, and the kind of things that are playing out.“Only God knows how many people have died from consumption of the illicit drugs produced by these merchants who are looking for money at all cost.” They are perpetrating these heinous crimes using all manners of avenue including inciting the public against what NAFDAC is doing.“They are even using their ill gotten money after killing a lot of people. Nigerians need to be very vigilant.”According to Iluyomade, the prime suspect, one Ekene Igwe, now at large is one of the major traders at Ogbo-Ogu at Bridge Head drug market in Onitsha, Anambra.He said the suspect and his wife, one Blessing Igwe had been together in this illicit drug business.“What these drug merchants have done since they knew that Ogbo- Ogu market is no longer safe for their illicit drug business, they have moved out to neighbouring places like Asaba in uncompleted buildings, relabelling injectable that expired far back seven years ago.“This issue of illicit drug business has been on for several years, and there has not been any solution. This time, NAFDAC is coming forward with solution to make sure that Nigerians are safe, and we are able to safeguard the health of the public,” Iluyomade said.While displaying the drugs, Mr Babatunji Omoyeni, Deputy Director, NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement, Federal Taskforce, South-South and South-East, said the agency successfully tracked a drug shop at Ogbo-Ogu, where illicit drugs produced are sold to unsuspecting buyers.According to Omoyeni, the seizures at the illicit drug factory included a big drum containing vials soaked in liquid substance and adulterated drugs.“They are rebranding expired drugs including large quantity of chloroquine phosphate 322 mg/5ml, petazine injection 50mg/2ml, gentamycin injection 280mg/2ml and many other contraband injectable with new labelling.”He said the agency recorded the breakthrough following a tip off from concerned members of the publicOmoyeni, said efforts were being intensified to track the prime suspect, adding that his wife has been apprehended and arraigned before a competent court for trial and prosecution over her level of involvement in the illicit drug business.Report says that NAFDAC displayed the fake drugs and printed packs of drugs-injections while journalists were taken to the building housing the fake drug factory in Azagba-Ogwashi in Asaba Capital Territory.According to NAFDAC, the injectables recovered from the three storey building include eight packs of expired chloroquine phosphate which expired August 2018. “35 amps of engometrin that expired in July 2020, 30 amps of petazine, 70 amps of gentamycine, 200 packs of unexpired chloroquine phosphate, 35 amps of engometrin.“Also displayed were 50 amps of promethazine, 3000 amps of unidentified injection wrapped with papers, 1300 printed packs of drugs ( injection), 2 sets of generator and 1 drum containing nails soaked in liquid substances.(NAN)
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