Tag: General News

The Anambra State Government and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) over the weekend signed a N1bn agreement to fund Small and Medium sized Enterprises in Anambra State.

Under the agreement, Anambra State Government will provide N500,000,000 while SMEDAN will match it with another N500,000,000.

The N1bn funding agreement was signed by Charles Odhii, Director General of SMEDAN and Christian C. Udechukwu, Commissioner for Industry, Anambra State with Mark Okoye, Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) as witness for both partners.

ANSG and SMEDAN funding partnership will be integrated into Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s agenda for targeted sustainable economic support for small and medium enterprises industrial growth in Anambra State.

Anambra Govt, SMEDAN Sign N1bn Agreement To Fund SMEs is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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In his 80-page Renewed Hope policy document released in the build-up to the 2023 general election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu listed some action plans. Top on his priority lists were national security, economy, agriculture, power, oil and gas, transportation and education. He said his objective was to foster a new society based on shared prosperity, tolerance, compassion, and the unwavering commitment to handling each citizen with equal respect and due regard.

And to ensure his campaign promises unfold into a pleasant reality, the president, at the maiden Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in August this year, unveiled a more vivid eight-point agenda to turn around the economy and make life comfortable for all Nigerians. Encapsulating the action plans in the 8-point agenda, he relisted the eight priority areas to include food security, ending poverty, economic growth and job creation, access to capital, improving security, rule of law, fighting corruption and improving the playing field on which people, particularly companies operate.

Since assuming office, President Tinubu has unleashed a flurry of economic diplomacy stemming from his notion that the prestige of any country among the comity of nations is proportionally dependent on its social and economic realities, which explains why governments around the world embark on missions to create an enabling environment to attract both local and foreign investments.  

President Tinubu started firing from all cylinders the moment he and VP Shettima took their oath of office. To begin with, he embarked on ambitious plans of warming Nigeria’s way back to global relevance. Beyond the avalanche of domestic reforms being implemented to create an investment-friendly Nigeria, the president and his deputy have also assumed the position of Nigeria’s marketers-in-chief.

At the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held from September 20-23, 2023 where he delivered his maiden address to the General Assembly on September 20, President Tinubu shot straight, telling the world that “the greatest economy is Nigeria with immense investment opportunities,”. He noted that Africa is not a problem to be avoided or pitied, he said, “Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future”.

That the President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima synergy is redefining and setting the pace in president/vice president harmony is to say the least in the mildest way. This smooth working relationship between them stems from Shettima’s unwavering and natural loyalty to his boss. The Tinubu government is only five months old in office, but within this period, VP Shettima and his boss have struck a balance never seen in this part of the globe.

The cumulative effects of this synergy are the positive issues arising from the presidential global engagements that have continued to dominate headlines and possibly for some time to come. Some of the high-hanging fruits, which have resonated well with Nigerians, came in handy by way of the recent bumper achievements recorded by the Nigerian delegation under the leadership of President Tinubu to the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum in China, as well as the Norman Borlaug International Dialogue, World Food Prize 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa, United States of America.

In China where significant milestones in the nation’s journey towards economic prosperity were made, VP Shettima joined world leaders from over 130 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America at the forum to deliberate on the theme, “High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity.” The Vice President availed Nigeria of the platform provided by the forum to woo investors for more developmental projects at high-powered bilateral meetings with other world leaders. He also promoted Nigeria’s trade and investment relations in line with the economic development agenda of the Tinubu administration.

One of the most significant breakthroughs was China’s renewed commitment to the completion of the long-awaited Lagos – Ibadan, Abuja-Kano and Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects, as well as the Lagos-Ibadan railway. This, economic experts believe, will not only revolutionise the country’s transportation sector but also foster regional connectivity and economic integration. Moreover, the commitments in power generation and digital economy mark crucial steps towards addressing Nigeria’s energy challenges and advancing technological innovations, crucial for sustaining long-term growth.

The signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) valued at $2 billion, alongside the $4 billion worth of letters of intent, reflects the substantial inflow of foreign direct investment into key sectors such as technology, automotive and infrastructure, underlining the growing confidence of international partners in Nigeria’s economic potential. These agreements, which include partnerships with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and various Chinese corporations, are poised to drive job creation, technological advancements and overall economic diversification.

Furthermore, the agreement on the construction of the Lekki Deep Blue Seaport contract is a testament to the enduring appeal of Nigeria as a premier investment destination. Such projects not only bolster Nigeria’s status as a regional economic powerhouse but also solidify its position as an industrial hub, attracting diverse industries and promoting sustainable economic growth.

The collaborations with renowned Chinese companies, encompassing fields such as technology, construction, and communications underscore the multifaceted nature of the strengthened Nigeria-China relationship, ushering in an era of enhanced technical capabilities, infrastructure development and knowledge transfer.

At the Norman Borlaug International Dialogue, World Food Prize 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa, United States, it was another bumper harvest, as Vice President Shettima wooed investors from the United States and other countries. He said Nigeria remains the best place to invest given its 70 million hectares of underutilised arable land, which he said is 75% of the country’s total land mass. He told them that under President Tinubu’s watch, Nigeria has since demonstrated that the Agrifood sector is a top priority.

An instant gain from the VP’s engagement in that country was the resolve by an American company, John Deere, to invest in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, first by setting up a tractor assembly plant in Nigeria. The decision was taken during a meeting between VP Shettima and top officials of the firm led by its Vice President on Production Systems, Mr Jason Brantley. The meeting was facilitated by the Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr John Coumantaros, a long-time investor in Nigeria.

Just as one would think it was already enough takeaways, the African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development announced at the Norman Borlaug International Dialogue that they have voted a whopping $1 billion to further deliver on the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) in 24 states of Nigeria. President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, said the decision to pump such huge funds was to develop SAPZs in 13 countries.

President Tinubu’s administration’s strategic efforts to create a conducive environment for business and investment have undoubtedly paved the way for these remarkable achievements. The emphasis on fostering mutual international cooperation and the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to building robust partnerships that prioritise respect, mutual benefit and non-interference. These are essential pillars for sustainable global relations.

Just as VP Shettima told the investors in the United States that Nigeria is committed to transforming agriculture as a pathway to tackling insecurity and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, President Tinubu is, indeed, taking the courageous decision to revamp Nigeria’s economy. There may be painful reforms as certain opposition elements are trying to project them before the citizens, but they are necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of the nation’s economy.

Tony Blair, a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, once said, “Anyone can say yes, but the hallmark of leadership is the ability to say no when you should.” This statement underscores the inevitability of courageous decisions in leadership, and it is a quality that President Tinubu has demonstrated in unmistakable terms.

On the other hand, Vice President Shettima is another leader who embodies the qualities of loyalty, courage and vision. In a country where tribalism and regionalism are often used to divide and conquer, Shettima remains a staunch believer in the unity and progress of Nigeria.

The VP has consistently demonstrated his commitment to a united Nigeria where every citizen is treated equally, regardless of their tribe or ethnicity. His unwavering loyalty to the people of Nigeria is evident in his selfless service and dedication to the betterment of the country. He is a man who puts the needs of the nation above his own personal gains, always tirelessly working towards the progress and development of the nation.

The achievements at the Forum in China and the Dialogue in the United States are not just a cause for celebration but also a testament to the unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s infrastructural development. The substantial investments and agreements signed during these fora signal a promising future for Nigeria, indicating the emergence of new opportunities and partnerships that would undoubtedly propel the nation towards greater heights.

As the nation progresses on this path of growth and innovation, it is imperative to sustain this momentum, ensuring that the benefits of these partnerships are effectively harnessed for the holistic advancement of Nigeria and its people as the power of strategic alliances and international cooperation in fostering sustainable development and economic prosperity cannot be overemphasised.

– Nkwocha is the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President) and can be reached on X @stanleynkwocha_

Disclaimer: This article is entirely the opinion of the writer and does not represent the views of The Whistler.

Reframing Tinubu’s Development Agenda Through Diplomacy is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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Following criticisms that followed the quick passage of the supplementary budget on Thursday, the Senate has explained that the fast-tracked passage of the bill was due to the poor state of the economy caused by rising cost of food due to fuel subsidy removal.

This explanation was made on Saturday by the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Ali Ndume in Abuja.

Ndume said, “The increases of prices of fuel, costs of essential services and food items have gone up in the country following the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

“Workers embarked on strike many times as a result of this and there were negotiations between the organised labour unions and the Federal Government.

“At the end of the negotiations, the Labour and the Federal Government agreed that workers would be paid N35,000 in addition to their minimum wage.

“If N35,000 is paid to each of the over 1.5 million workers, the amount is huge. The money was captured in the supplementary budget.

“There were also agitations among parents of students in tertiary institutions following the increment in the tuition fees and the Federal Government came up with a wonderful idea of giving loans to students in tertiary institutions hence provision of N5.5 billion was made in the supplementary budget for that purpose also.”

THE WHISTLER reports that the appropriation bill was submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday.

The Upper Chamber suspended its rules and read the bill for the first and second times before sending it to the Appropriations committees of both chambers.

Within 24 hours, the joint committee considered the proposal and presented it for consideration which was approved by both houses on Thursday.

Ndume however said the bill was properly considered before its passage particularly explaining the circumstances surrounding the controversial presidential yacht, noting, “The two chambers of the National Assembly met on it and we both agreed to jerk it up to N10bn.

“This is because our members from the House of Representatives argued that the provision of N5bn made for the procurement of the presidential yacht was not necessary at the moment.

“It was the Yacht money that we added to the initial N5bn provided for students loan which jerked it up to N10bn.

“We had already acted on the N5bn provided for the presidential yacht and removed it from the budget before the public outcry.

“It is not true that the Senate was silent on the N5bn provided for the yacht. We had harmonised with the House of Representatives before the joint appropriation committee of both chambers prepared and presented their reports. It was even signed by the two chairmen.

“The only thing was that the Navy asked us to forget about the yacht and pleaded with us to allow them have the N5bn so as to enhance their operations especially in the areas of fighting oil bunkering and crude theft in the Niger Delta and we immediately told them to utilise their operational funds for that purpose.

“There is also the provision of N8bn for the takeoff of the new ministries that were created by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration. It is very important for them to get certain things put on ground to start working.

“A particular amount of money was also provided in the Ministry of Agriculture which was meant for the purchase of grains as palliatives to encourage farmers to engage in dry season farming so as to guarantee food security.

“Apart from this, the Senate considered that since the Independent National Electoral Commission has its off cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states on November 11, and N18bn was captured for that purpose in the supplementary budget, they needed to access the funds for proper conduct of the polls,” Ndume said.

He pointed out that, “The Nigeria Police Force is supposed to supervise the election and it would need more personnel hence the sum of N20bn was earmarked for that purpose.

“The Nigerian Army would also need additional money to pay duty allowance to the soldiers on the field who are currently engaged in all the states of the federation. Each of them is being paid a minimum of N5, 000 per day. It is not a small amount of money at all.

“Another item captured in the budget is the housing sector which got N100bn. The thinking of the government is that it will tackle the challenge of housing deficits in most urban areas in the country.

“There is also the N300bn allocated to the Federal Ministry of Works. It was not for the construction of new roads but to make the existing roads motorable. This is the opportunity to do so now that we are already in the dry season.

“There is no single provision for the National Assembly and we ensure that each geopolitical zone in the country got N8bn to fix roads in their areas.

“The sum of N28bn was allocated to the State House. The funds allocated for the presidential fleet was for the maintenance of the aircraft which are serviced abroad in dollars. President Bola Tinubu did not buy a single aircraft.

“He inherited all of them and he has to maintain them otherwise if he skips their maintenance the aircraft would all be grounded.

“We asked questions as members of the nation’s parliament and we were satisfied with the answers provided,” Ndume said.

Why We Passed N2.17trn Supplementary Budget In Two Days – Senate is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, weekend, expressed shock over the death of one-time Deputy President General of the pan-Igbo group, Dr Sylvanus Olisanye Ebigwei.

Ohanaeze, in a release by its National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, described the deceased as a ‘humanist, erudite scholar, and bridge-builder’.

Our correspondent reports that Dr Ebigwei served as the president of Aka Ikenga, Lagos; and later as the Vice President General (VPG) of Ohanaeze under Chief Nnia Nwodo as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

According to the release, “Throughout his tenure as the VPG, Chief Ebigwei’s wise counsel, moral authority, audacity of intellect, humility and nobility radiance were irresistible and disarming; and at the NEC meetings, Nwodo would cast a look at Ebigwei to solicit his validation at any critical juncture.”

The statement continued that, “Dr Ebigwei decried the inanity of double standards, identity crises and ethnic ambivalence that have pervaded the Igbo of the South-South extraction of Nigeria.”

The departed had in his book entitled ‘The History of Okpanam People and Culture’ stated that ‘Delta Ñorth, known as Anioma people, are basically Ndi Igbo’.

Ohanaeze wrote, “Ebigwei lamented that the likes of Dennis Osadebay, Col Joe Achuzia, and Ambassador Raph Uwechue were firm about their Igboness; and would turn in their graves over the recent developments, where a split personality with Igbo name, language and culture would prefer to deny his identity for a genealogical rootlessness, porridge mendacity and chameleon mentality.”

Ebigwei, the statement added, regretted that it was “after the civil war in 1970 that many persons from Anioma started to distance themselves from their original ethnic identity for political survival.”

Ogbonnia further stated that, “Ebigwei was an exemplary Anioma who detested wobbling personalities and remained steadfast to his roots until Friday, November 3, 2023 when he departed to meet his ancestors.”

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, in the release, expressed dismay over the close chain of deaths of some Igbo icons of late, including Chief Joel Kroham, Prof George Obiozor, Prof Joe Irukwu, Prof Ben Nwabueze, Elder Dr UK Kalu and now Dr S. O. Ebigwei.

Born January 8, 1943, Sylvanus Olisanye Ebigwei attended St Patrick’s College, Asaba, and left as the best graduating HSC student in 1966. He proceeded to the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, where he studied dentistry.

He served as the chairman, Governing Council, Nnamdi Azikiwe University University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi; chairman, College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu, and chairman, Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria.

Ohanaeze Mourns Ex-Deputy President General, Ebigwei is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has expressed joy over the release of the last kidnapped students of Bethel Baptist High School, Treasure Ayuba, who has been in captivity since 2021.

Recall that Ayuba was among the 121 students of the school who were abducted when gunmen invaded the school located at Maraban Damishi, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on July 5, 2021.

A statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Shehu, on Saturday, stated that the governor was ecstatic when he heard the news of the student’s release.

The Governor expressed gratitude to those that have been praying and working tirelessly for the safe release of the student.

He also assured that the state government would continue to give security agencies all the support required to ensure that schools in the state were safe and secure.

THE WHISTLER reports that the President of the Nigeria Baptist Convention (NBC), Rev Dr Israel Akanji, announced the release of Ayuba in a statement.

He wrote, “Glory be to God! Glory be to God!! Glory be to God!!! Treasure Ayuba, the last boy who was still with the bandits who kidnapped the 121 students of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna, on July 5, 2021, has just returned home today, November 2, 2023.

“Treasure is in the company of the CAN Chairman, Kaduna State, Rev JJ Hayab and the Conference President of Kaduna Baptist Conference.

“Thanks be to our unfailing God. Thank you also very much for your prayers and numerous support.”

Kaduna State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev Joseph Hayab, further explained that Ayuba found himself in an unidentified community in the early hours of Thursday.

He added that Ayuba has been reunited with his family and taken to an undisclosed health facility for medical check-up.

Kaduna Governor Rejoices Over Release Of Kidnapped Baptist Student is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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Eastern Union, a pro-democracy group, Saturday, advised Imo electorate to ensure that their votes count during the Nov 11 governorship poll in the state.

The National President of EU, Charles Anike, stated this in an interview with THE WHISTLER.

He said the candidates for the poll were experienced, and called for free and fair voting. He also cautioned INEC against compromising.

Anike said, “Most of the candidates in the coming Imo State governorship election are exposed and also well experienced. We believe they have a lot to offer if elected into office.

“Imo State, as it stands now, requires and deserves a sacrificial and committed unifier that can help to heal the wounds of many years of directionless leadership or better still governments of guy men. This will be achieved if INEC does not continue in its old ways.

“The November 11 governorship election would have been another opportunity for the people of Imo to right the wrongs done on them by our reckless government institutions. There is most likely to be very low turnout of voters due to some obvious underlining factors, especially the issue of insecurity that associates the criminal activities of unknown gun men; also the Biafra agitators, and coupled with heavy militarization of the state and its environs.

“Then again is the general lack of trust in the electoral management of INEC.

“The outcome of the presidential election case at the Supreme Court is another wound that will take decades to heal in the hearts of Nigerians, especially the youths.

“That the same INEC which still parades Prof Mahmood as its chairman will conduct the election may raise doubts in the minds of the people. Nigerians have lost faith in INEC to conduct anything near credible polls.”

Our correspondent reports that incumbent governor Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress is seeking a second term in office. He is being challenged by candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, Action Alliance, among others.

Imo Election: Make Your Votes Count, Eastern Union Tells Electorates is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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