NEWS
NCDC Boss Vows Broad Stakeholder Collaboration to Drive North Central Devt
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
The Board Chairman of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Barrister Cosmas Ternenge Akighir, has assured the people of the North Central geopolitical zone that the Commission will work closely with all relevant stakeholders to tackle insecurity, improve road infrastructure, and enhance health and education across the region.
Speaking at a dinner held in his honour by the Jemgbagh Active and Retired Directors Association at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Akighir stressed the importance of forging strong partnerships with state governments, individuals, and corporate organizations. Such collaboration, he said, would position the Commission as a model institution “standing tall when others are sitting down.”“We have a robust roadmap for developing our people—education, healthcare, road networks, and beyond. On insecurity, we will liaise with local vigilantes in partnership with the state governments. In all our endeavours, we will bring every necessary stakeholder on board to drive our agenda. I see the Commission becoming a model others will envy,” he said.Akighir also highlighted the region’s vast mineral resources, noting that about 40 percent of Nigeria’s mineral deposits lie within the North Central zone. The Commission, he assured, would work within its mandate to ensure proper management of these resources to generate jobs and revenue for the people and government. He added that the NCDC would promote irrigation farming to boost food security in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priorities.Representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, praised President Tinubu for appointing Akighir as the pioneer Board Chairman of the NCDC. He urged him to remain consultative and engage widely with elders and stakeholders to record steady success.“Barrister Cosmas is a young man with vibrant ideas. His appointment is well deserved. I thank President Tinubu for giving him this opportunity. I also advise him to always seek guidance from elders and carry stakeholders along so his journey will be smooth,” Utsev said.Speaking on his ministry’s work, the Minister explained that the government had embarked on a comprehensive assessment of irrigable lands and the state of dams across the country. He noted that ongoing rehabilitation efforts, in partnership with private and development organizations, aim to strengthen year-round farming and reinforce national food security.Earlier, the Chairman of the Jemgbagh Active and Retired Directors Association, Sir Frank Aul Mku, expressed the group’s appreciation and loyalty to Senator Akume. He commended the political leadership that has elevated the Jemgbagh axis and congratulated Akighir on his new role.“We have over 100 members. We are not a political party, but we stand firmly behind you. We appreciate your leadership that has brought recognition to Jemgbagh. We wish our son, Barrister Cosmas Ternenge Akighir, the very best,” he said.NEWS
Tinubu’s Reforms Repositioning Nigeria for Long-Term Prosperity, Says Idris
By David Torough, Abuja
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are laying the foundation for long-term prosperity by improving economic stability, boosting investor confidence and driving national development.
Idris made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the APC Forum of Former Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly (FOPSHA), led by its Chairman, Rt.
Hon. Sen. Wasiu Esinlokun, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry’s headquarters.The minister said the Tinubu administration had, within three years, implemented critical reforms aimed at addressing longstanding economic challenges and creating a more sustainable growth path for the country.
According to him, key achievements of the administration include the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms, improved fiscal capacity for the federal and state governments, expansion of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), growth in external reserves, improved Gross Domestic Product (GDP) performance, major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, as well as intensified efforts to tackle insecurity.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took courageous decisions that previous administrations avoided for decades. Today, Nigeria is witnessing greater fiscal stability, improved investor confidence, enhanced infrastructure development and expanding opportunities for citizens. The foundation has been laid for a more prosperous future,” Idris said.
He urged members of the forum to leverage their experience and grassroots networks to deepen public understanding of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the long-term benefits of the administration’s reforms.
The minister also commended FOPSHA for its contributions to democratic governance and national development, assuring the delegation that the Federal Government’s media organisations—the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)—would provide coverage for the forum’s forthcoming National Executive Council and Board of Trustees meeting.
Earlier, Esinlokun said the visit was to brief the minister on the forum’s activities and seek the ministry’s support in publicising its upcoming meeting, which is expected to bring together former Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, former governors, former ministers and distinguished senators.
He said the forum remained committed to mobilising grassroots support for the Renewed Hope Agenda through sustained engagement with Nigerians across the country.
NEWS
Akume Urges Code of Conduct Tribunal to Adopt Digital Technology for Faster Justice Delivery
By David Torough, Abuja
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has urged the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to fully embrace digital technology in the administration of justice to improve case management, records administration and overall operational efficiency.
Akume made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Dr.
Mainasara Umar Kogo, and members of the tribunal’s management team during a courtesy visit to his office.He said the adoption of digital tools aligns with the Federal Government’s ongoing drive to modernise public institutions through digital transformation, improved service delivery and stronger inter-agency coordination.
“The Tribunal should continue to embrace technology to improve case management, records administration and overall operational efficiency in line with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda,” the SGF said.
Akume commended the tribunal for its role in promoting integrity, accountability and ethical standards in Nigeria’s public service, describing its constitutional responsibility of adjudicating breaches of the Code of Conduct for public officers as a key component of the country’s anti-corruption framework.
He said the President Bola Tinubu administration remains committed to institutional reforms, public sector efficiency and the rule of law, stressing that strong institutions such as the CCT are essential for sustainable national development, economic growth and boosting investor confidence.
The SGF also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening institutions that promote transparency, accountability and responsible public service in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He called for greater collaboration among government institutions to advance integrity and accountability, assuring the tribunal of the continued support of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation within its statutory mandate.
Akume further encouraged the CCT to deepen engagement with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to improve compliance with ethical standards and constitutional obligations through public enlightenment, training, awareness campaigns and effective enforcement.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Dr. Mainasara Umar Kogo, said the visit was to brief the SGF on the tribunal’s achievements over the past year.
He said the tribunal had implemented far-reaching reforms aimed at strengthening its institutional capacity and improving the delivery of justice.
These included inspection visits to all its zonal offices to assess operational needs, improve performance and address challenges affecting service delivery.
Kogo also disclosed that the tribunal had strengthened collaboration with other anti-corruption agencies and civil society organisations to enhance coordination in the fight against corruption and improve the administration of justice.
He announced that the tribunal had cleared all inherited and pending cases, leaving it with no case backlog, and pledged to sustain ongoing reforms, deepen institutional partnerships and continue delivering impartial, timely and efficient justice to Nigerians.
NEWS
Tinubu’s Reforms Repositioning Nigeria for Long-Term Prosperity, Says Idris
By David Torough, Abuja
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu are laying the foundation for long-term prosperity by strengthening economic stability, boosting investor confidence and accelerating national development.
Idris made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the APC Forum of Former Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly (FOPSHA), led by its Chairman, Rt.
Hon. Sen. Wasiu Esinlokun, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry’s headquarters.The minister commended the forum for its contributions to democratic governance and national development, assuring its leadership that federal government-owned media organisations—the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)—would provide coverage for the forum’s forthcoming National Executive Council and Board of Trustees meeting.
According to Idris, the Tinubu administration has, within three years, implemented difficult but necessary reforms that are repositioning the country for sustainable economic growth.
He listed the administration’s achievements to include the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms, improved fiscal capacity for the federal and state governments, expansion of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), growth in external reserves, improved Gross Domestic Product (GDP) performance, major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, as well as intensified efforts to tackle insecurity.
He said previous administrations had avoided many of the reforms for decades, stressing that the decisions taken by President Tinubu were beginning to yield positive results.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took courageous decisions that previous administrations avoided for decades. Today, Nigeria is witnessing greater fiscal stability, improved investor confidence, enhanced infrastructure development and expanding opportunities for citizens. The foundation has been laid for a more prosperous future,” Idris said.
The minister also urged members of the forum to leverage their experience and grassroots networks to deepen public understanding of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the long-term benefits of the administration’s policies.
Earlier, Esinlokun said the visit was to brief the minister on the forum’s activities and seek the ministry’s support in publicising its forthcoming meeting, which is expected to bring together former Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, former governors, former ministers and distinguished senators.
He added that the forum remained committed to mobilising grassroots support for the Renewed Hope Agenda through sustained engagement with Nigerians across the country


