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FG Shifts N150bn Manufacturers Loan Disbursement To Sept

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The Federal Government has shifted the start of the N150billion loan disbursement for manufacturers and micro, small, and medium enterprises to September.
The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, confirmed this during a meeting with beneficiaries of the presidential grant and prospective beneficiaries of the MSME Presidential Loan in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, Sunday.
A statement issued by the trade ministry and made available to The Tide’s source, stated that the event, hosted at the invitation of the Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, offered a platform for direct interaction between the Federal Government and recipients of President Bola Tinubu’s economic empowerment initiatives.
In her address, the minister disclosed that 660,320 nano beneficiaries, representing over 60 per cent of the targeted one million had received disbursements across Nigeria’s 774 local governments.
She also announced that the loan disbursements for manufacturers and MSMEs would commence in September.
The Minister highlighted that over 700,000 applications were received for this disbursement, confirming the previous publication.
She said, “The Presidential Loans and Grant Scheme is not just about providing financial support; it is about restoring hope, rebuilding lives, and reaffirming our commitment to the social contract we hold with our people.
“The impact of this initiative is already being felt, and we are committed to ensuring it reaches every corner of this great nation.
“On the progress of the Presidential Loans and Grant Scheme, 660,320 nano beneficiaries, representing over 60 per cent of the targeted one million, have received disbursements across Nigeria’s 774 local governments.
“Also, loan disbursements for manufacturers and MSMEs are set to commence by next month, following the verification of over 700,000 applications received”.
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, commended the Federal Government’s initiatives, highlighting their positive impact on Cross River State.
“The Presidential Conditional Grant has been a lifeline for many of our citizens. We’ve seen small businesses flourish and individuals regain their economic footing. This programme is truly transforming lives in Cross River State”, the Governor stated.,
Presidential Conditional Loans and Grant Scheme is a N200bn initiative divided into N125bn for MSMEs and N75bn for manufacturers, with funds allocated to support growth, employment, and the overall prosperity of Nigeria.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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