NEWS
State Police: NEC Tasks FCT, Kwara, others to Submit Positions
The National Economic Council (NEC) has mandated Kwara, Adamawa, Kebbi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to submit their positions on the proposed establishment of the State Police within one week.
Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa, said this on Thursday while briefing newsmen at the end of the NEC meeting chaired by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Diri explained that the council was updated on the establishment of the state police and it was reported that 33 states have submitted their positions.
He said, ” While three states are yet to do so. These three states are Adamawa, Kebbi, and incidentally Kwara, which the state of our Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the FCT are yet to submit their position.
” The council mandated these remaining states and FCT to make their submission within the next one week and reserved to present a consolidated state position on the state police to the National Economic Council at our next meeting.”
On his part, Gov. Hope Uzodima of Imo, said that the council also received a presentation from the National Coordinator of the Special Agro Industrial Processing Zone (SAIPZ).
He said, ” Of course you will recall that this is a special agricultural programme by the Federal Government and the African Development Bank.
” The pilot states are: Kano: Kaduna, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Cross River, and the FCT, under phase one.
” And the projects in these states are at various stages of completion. Impressed by the programme, phase two is about to start.
”Two weeks ago, there was a stakeholders’ meeting that brought additional 21 states.”
Uzodima said that the council resolved that all the states of the federation should key into the programme, saying,” this programme is going to be a game changer.
” And it will help in tackling the food security drive of the Federal Government.”
Similarly, the governor said that the council also received a presentation from the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
” They presented various initiatives of the agency; in agriculture, science, technology, and proposed partnership with sub-national governments on the establishment and improvement of Solar Power, Rural Electrification and some other industries.
” And the agency wants to support manufacturing, seaport development and they are also going to make land accessible, encourage the public sector market and general infrastructure.
” As a matter of fact they came up with different initiatives, repairing agro equipment and implementing, repairing and manufacturing tractors to be powered by solar,” he said.
Uzodima, therefore, said that the council urged NASENI to help state governments in repairing the broken down tractors in different states.
He said, ” Impressed by that most of the sub-nationals have expressed willingness to henceforth partner, procured and patronise NASENI in making sure that all these efforts and initiatives comes to fruition.” (NAN)
The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu on Sunday said that a meeting has been scheduled between President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the Power Generation Companies(GenCos) over a N4-trillion debt.Mr Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and Media Relations to the minister of power said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.
According to Adelabu, the planned meeting with President Tinubu aims to chart a viable course for resolving the debtAdelabu assured that the Federal Government would immediately pay a significant portion of the debt, while the balance would be settled using financial instruments such as promissory notes within six months. “We recognise the urgency of this matter. The government is committed to resolving this debt to stabilise the sector and prevent further crisis,” Adelabu said.Acknowledging the government’s own role in the sector’s challenges, Adelabu pledged not only to clear the debt backlog but also to implement structural reforms that would remove operational bottlenecks.He emphasised the need for full liberalisation of the power sector and called for the adoption of cost-reflective tariffs.“Citizens must pay the appropriate price for the energy consumed.“The Federal Government will continue to provide targeted subsidies for economically disadvantaged Nigerians, but we must realise that our economy cannot sustain blanket subsidies indefinitely,” he said.The minister also unveiled plans to review existing regulations to lower levies and enhance market stability.He urged GenCos to partner with the government in raising public awareness on efficient electricity use and tariff realities.The GenCos were led by Col. Sani Bello(Rtd), Chairman of Mainstream Energy Solutions, and who is also the Chairman of Association of Power Generating Companies.Bello warned that persistent liquidity challenges had left GenCos unable to service loans or maintain critical infrastructure.“Without urgent intervention, the entire power ecosystem could collapse,” he said.Mr Kola Adesina, Chairman of Egbin Power and First Independent Power Limited, described the situation as a national emergency.He said that reliable power supply was fundamental to the survival of industries, homes, and health facilities.Mrs Joy Ogaji, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Association of Power Generation Companies, listed the systemic challenges undermining GenCos, including chronic payment defaults, erratic gas supply, and forex instability.She lamented the steep depreciation of the naira—from ₦157/$1 in 2013 to ₦1,600/$1 in 2024. saying it had devastated GenCos’ ability to meet maintenance obligations and repay loans.“GenCos have borne unsustainable risks from grid failures to unproductive taxes while remaining patriotic,” she said.(NAN)
The Yoruba Youth Assembly (YYA), umbrella body of all Yoruba youth groups, has condemned recent misinformation and character attacks against Mr Seyi Tinubu, President Bola Tinubu’s son. This is contained in a communiqué issued on Sunday following a meeting held in Ibadan with 38 affiliated sister unions in attendance.
The communiqué was signed by the group’s President, Mr Thomas Olarinde, and Spokesperson, Mr Jide Alofe. Daily Asset recalls a factional National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) President, Atiku Isah, accused Seyi Tinubu of disrupting his Abuja inauguration and locking the venue. The communiqué partly read: “We strongly condemn the baseless allegations by Atiku Isah, claiming thugs linked to Mr Seyi Tinubu assaulted him. “These claims are unfounded, malicious, and politically driven. “His claim of being offered a N100 million bribe is a deliberate falsehood aimed at discrediting reputable individuals like Mr Sunday Asefon.” Olarinde said opposition forces are using Atiku Isah to destabilise the student movement and tarnish dedicated youth advocates’ reputations. The YYA president urged Isah to stop spreading misinformation and stirring confusion, adding that he never participated in the official NANS convention or elections. Olarinde added, “As such, he lacks legitimacy to speak or act as NANS President. “His continued impersonation is deceitful and a calculated move to mislead the student body and general public.” He urged Isah to desist from his actions and stop dragging the Minister of Youth’s office into political controversy. He also asked him to respect Seyi Tinubu, who supports youth development initiatives across Nigeria. Olarinde affirmed Mr Olusola Oladoja as the legitimate NANS President, calling all other claims fraudulent and misleading. He warned that the matter now affects the integrity of student representation across the country. “YYA vowed not to allow impostors to hijack student platforms for selfish political purposes. “We will resist any effort to distort facts or misuse student platforms for manipulation,” he said. (NAN
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has warned the public regarding the activities of fraudsters offering non-existent postgraduate scholarships to unsuspecting victims.Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs at the NDDC, issued the warning in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
She disclosed that the scammers had been soliciting money from members of the public under the pretext of securing scholarship placements. “The attention of the NDDC has been drawn to fraudulent emails and messages sent to applicants of the commission’s Postgraduate Foreign Scholarship Programme,” she said.Thompson-Wakama revealed that the fraudulent emails, purportedly sent from nddcregistry@gmail.com and claiming to be from the NDDC’s ‘Board Registry,’ invite recipients to a fictitious document verification and authentication exercise.According to her, the purported exercise is scheduled to take place from May 19 to May 21 at Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.“Members of the public are hereby advised that the NDDC has no affiliation with this fraudulent selection process,” she stressed.She further clarified that all official communication concerning the commission’s scholarship programme are conducted exclusively through the official NDDC portal: www.scholarship.nddc.gov.ng.“Applicants are strongly advised to disregard any unsolicited messages requesting money, invitation, sensitive information, or offering scholarship placements outside of the official NDDC procedures,” she added.Thompson-Wakama urged anyone who receives such fraudulent emails to report them immediately to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for prompt investigation and action.She encouraged Nigerians interested in the NDDC’s programmes to utilise only the official NDDC communication channels.“We also advise former beneficiaries of the commission’s programmes and prospective applicants to verify all information through the NDDC’s official website official: www.nddc.gov.ng,” she concluded. (NAN)
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