News
FG Releases N100bn Consumer Credit Fund For Manufacturers

The Federal Government says it will provide the sum of N100 billion through consumer credit fund to support the manufacturing sector.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, said this while briefing newsmen on clarifications on the implementation of 2024 Appropriation Act, in Abuja yesterday.
Bagudu, who noted that the manufacturing sector was facing serious challenges, said that the fund would help to revive the sector.
“Our economy can gain if many people can pay for goods and services over a period of time just as it’s being done around the world. And it will help our manufacturing sector.
“The Consumer Credit is a veritable tool to provide access to goods and services to a lot of Nigerians. A committee is working on this.
“It has not been implemented. The money has not been withdrawn; the fund is a catalytic fund and it’s expected to grow,” he said.
The minister said that government was also providing N100 billion for agriculture sector.
He said that the fund was supposed to attract more funding so that the mortgage industry would grow bigger.
Bagudu further stated that government had equally made available N100 billion Energy Transition Fund to support the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles.
He said that when fuel subsidy was removed, government quickly provided N100 billion to support the provision of CNG vehicles which would consume less gas than fuel.
Bagudu added that a total of N60 billion had also been provided as student loan.
He said that although N50 billion was captured in the budget, another N10 billion was appropriated in the supplementary budget.
He said that the fund was part of efforts to cushion the effects of hardship on students.
“There was a N10 billion provision in the supplementary budget. Right now, we have N60 billion of student loan in the two budgets.
“We believe that our students should have an additional option,” he said.
The minister said that the federal government had also made provision for Youth Development Fund and Project Preparation Fund.
He used the opportunity to douse the tension surrounding the alleged padding of the 2024 budget to the tune of N3.6 trillion.
According to him, the word, ‘padding’ is a tautology and it’s now seen in negative form.
He said that while the constitution allowed the president to present a budget document to the National Assembly, the national assembly, on the other hand, had the right to add or subtract from the budget.
“In fact, the National Assembly has the last word when it comes to appropriation. So, they have the right to increase budget line,” he said.
The minister, however, said that when the constitutional rights were performed by the national assembly, it should not be seen as padding.
“When people talk about padding, the word has been narrowed to a negative form. Whereas in reality, there can be no appropriation without either addition or subtraction,” he said.
Bagudu said that the president submitted to the national assembly a consolidated revenue fund of N27,503,404,073,861, adding that the legislative body authorised a consolidated revenue fund of N28,777,404,073,861.
News
ECOWAS Court Orders Nigeria to Pay N52m compensation to Rivers, Lagos Evictees

The ECOWAS Court has ordered Nigeria to pay two million Naira compensation each to 26 people who were forcibly evicted from various communities in Lagos and Rivers between 2004 and 2013.
The Tide source reports that the applicants, Mr Edwin Lenyie and 25 others had filed the suit No: ECW/CCJ/APP/34/17), seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.
They also prayed the court to compel the Nigerian government to pay them compensation for forcefully evicting them from their communities without prior notice, compensation, or alternative shelter, rendering them homeless.
Delivering judgment yesterday, the court held that the Nigerian government failed in its responsibility to ensure access to legal remedies for the victims.
According to the community court, the action of the Nigerian government was in violation of Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
It held that the Applicants’ rights under Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), which guarantees the right to a fair trial and access to justice, were violated.
The court said that the hearings on the matter, which were held by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) “were never concluded, and no alternative means of redress were provided for them.”
“Inspite of initial hearings by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in 2014, the proceedings were suspended indefinitely, leaving the Applicants without legal recourse,” the court said.
The court further dismissed Nigeria’s objections that the Applicants should have pursued their claims in Nigerian courts and on jurisdiction, saying it had the locus standi to entertain the case.
It further struck out the NHRC as a respondent in the case, and ordered that the Federal Government must bear full responsibility for the actions of its agencies.
The three-member panel of the court which has Justices Ricardo Gonçalves (presiding); Sengu Koroma (judge rapporteur); and Gberi-Bè Ouattara (member) held that the compensation/reparation would ensure that justice is served the victims.
News
RSG Moves To Boost Immunization, Commissions Solarized Cold Room, Vehicles

As part of efforts to ensure efficient immunization and vaccine efficacy, the Rivers state Government has commissioned a solarised walk-in cold room for vaccine preservation and vaccine vial crusher.
Also commissioned were nine operational Hilux vehicles and ten motorcycles for disease surveillance across some local government areas in the state.
Rivers Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, who commissioned the facilities at the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board premises in Port Harcourt, said the development marks a significant milestone in the government’s unwavering commitment to the health care and wellbeing of Rivers people.
The Deputy Governor said that with the ceremony, the state government is not only inaugurating the equipment but also strengthening the foundation of the health care delivery system
She said: “Today marks a significant milestone in our unwavering commitment to the health and wellbeing of our people.
“As we commission the solarised work in cold room to the surveillance motorcycles, we are not only inaugurating the equipment, we are strengthening the foundation of our health care delivery system.’
Professor Odu further said the installation of the cold room also represents the government’s dedication to maintaining vaccine efficacy as well as ensuring that every child and citizen receives life savings immunization.
According to her, the commissioned Hilux vehicles and motorcycles for disease surveillance also demonstrate the government’s proactive stance in safeguarding health facilities across the local government areas.
She said the present administration, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has consistently prioritised health care infrastructure in the local government areas.
Professor Odu commended the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), the World Health Organization WHO, and others for their immense support.
In her remarks, Rivers Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, who spoke through her Permanent Secretary, Dr. Comfort Mekele Igwe said the commissioning would greatly enhance vaccine storage, handling, and distribution and underscores the government’s commitment to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the Primary Healthcare System
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board (RSPHCMB), Professor Kinikanwo Green, said the commissioning is to strengthen health care delivery system in the state.
Green described the solarised walk-in cold room as one of the best in the country, stressing that it would take care of all vaccines.
He also explained that the vehicles will help health officers, especially in the rural areas to ensure proper supervision of immunisation as well as easy dispatches of vaccines to its destination.
According to the Executive Secretary, the situation will also enable the state to achieve universal health coverage
Speaking in similar vein, the chairman of RSPHCMB, Professor Blessing Jaja, said the board will continue to deliver on it core mandate and commended Governor Fubara for ensuring regular subvention as well promotion of its staff.
In their separate speeches, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Kolude Oluwafunmilola, and Dr Anselem Audu of UNICEF said the ceremony represents Rivers state’s commitment to quality health care.
They also commended the government for its efforts in advancing immunization in the state and assured of their continuous collaborations.
John Bibor
News
Fubara Tasks New Surveyor-General On Professionalism …Says Appointment Based On Merit

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has urged the Surveyor-General of the State to work differently with professionalism, diligence and integrity, and ensure that every tenable, pragmatic module is deplored to enhance effective delivery of his duties and responsibilities.
Governor Fubara gave the charge shortly after swearing in Surveyor Peter Ogolo as the Surveyor-General of the State and Permanent Secretary of the Survey Department at Government House in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
The Governor described Surveyor Ogolo as a long serving public officer who ranks high among his peers, and has contributed immensely to the establishment of most development roadmaps for the State, stressing that his appointment was based purely on merit.
He said, “If you go into the history of how the then Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority was established, if you go into the history of other developments in this State, if you check the survey plans, you will see that Ogolo was the one who signed virtually all those things.
“This appointment is not because he is from Opobo. He is the most senior, most qualified, and even the one who interviewed the person he is succeeding now. The records are there with the Civil Service Commission.”
Governor Fubara stated: “So, I don’t need to give you any charge. You are already there. You know what the office entails. You just read your oath of office: do what is right. It is not about the faces you are going to see, do what is right. Be professional, defend and protect the interest of the State. I wish you all the best. God will guide you.”
Governor Fubara recalled the challenges that Surveyor Ogolo encountered that would have ended his career quite early but quickly added that because he listened to wise counsel, he is now celebrating being the Surveyor-General of the State.
He explained, “But something happened in the course of his service. He was between losing his job or fighting for his life. He came to me, and I advised him: why don’t you leave, maybe, wait to fight another day.
“And that is why today he is alive to be the Surveyor-General. If he had stood to fight, that he is the most senior, that he is the most qualified, he wouldn’t have been here today,” he stated.
He advised the new Surveyor-General to serve the State selflessly and honestly, with abiding integrity, so that posterity will remember his legacies forever.
-
Oil & Energy5 days ago
OPEC+Commits To Monitoring Oil Production Adjustment
-
Business5 days ago
Nigeria, Still Africa’s Largest Economy – World Bank
-
News5 days ago
Soludo Rebagged FG Rice Shared To APGA Members-APC
-
News18 hours ago
S’Court Didn’t Reinstate Amaewhule, 26 Others, RSG Insists
-
Women17 hours ago
IDGC: Girls’ Vision For The Future
-
Sports5 days ago
Tennis: Alcaraz Celebrates First Indoor Title
-
News5 days ago
N’Central APC Threatens To Sanction Members Attacking Tinubu
-
online games4 days ago
AI-Powered Advanced Leak Detection In Water Risk Management