Category: News

By Achadu Gabriel, Nigeria

The Council Chairman of Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa state, North central Nigeria, Mr. Safiyanu Isa Andaha has been reportedly kidnapped by gunmen. Nasarawa is the immediate border state next to plateau state, the recent most terrorised the nation.

Special Adviser to Nasarawa State Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Mr. Haruna Kassimu has already confirmed the incident.

He said the victim, Mr. Safiyanu Isa was abducted at Ningo village on the Akwanga – Andaha road in the Akwanga Local government area of the state along with one Alhaji Adamu Custom, at about 8:30pm, 1st January, 2024.

According to him, the security agencies had swiftly responded by chasing after the gunmen, but the bandits forcefully fled with the council chairman to an unknown destination.

In a telephone interview, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Ramhan Nansel said the police in collaboration with other security agencies were on the trail of the kidnappers to ensure the release of the council chairman and the other victim.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has issued a call for prayers for the victims of the recent attacks in Plateau State, where over 190 individuals lost their lives, and approximately 221 houses were razed, leading to the displacement of more than 10,000 people.

In his New Year message, the President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, strongly condemned the attacks and appealed for a nation where peace, justice, and prosperity are not mere ideals but tangible realities for all citizens. He characterized the assailants as “enemies of progress” aiming to overshadow the nation’s joy, emphasizing that the attacks serve as a stark reminder of the delicate nature of peace and a distressing recurrence.

Expressing shock at the violent incidents that marred the close of the year, Archbishop Okoh extended heartfelt prayers for the departed souls and the grieving families. Despite the adversities, he urged the people not to be disheartened but to unite and steadfastly commit to building a nation that is united, peaceful, and prosperous.

The CAN President emphasized the importance of collective resilience in the face of trials, urging unity as the source of hope and strength to rebuild. He called for embracing diversity as the foundation for constructing a stronger and more harmonious nation, expressing confidence that together, as one united people, Nigeria can become a reality where peace, justice, and prosperity prevail for everyone.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has officially confirmed that the automation process for passport applications will commence on January 8, 2024. This announcement follows the minister’s previous statement in December, where he revealed the Federal Government’s efforts to implement a fully automated system for passport applications in Nigeria.

During the inspection of facilities at the Nigeria Immigration Service in Abuja on Monday, alongside the Comptroller General of the Service, Wura-Ola Adepoju, Minister Tunji-Ojo reiterated that Nigerians will be able to apply for and complete their passport application processes online without the need for human contact.

The minister emphasized that the ministry has initiated the training process, leading to the live launch of the automated system. He stated, “We are good to go live. We are starting the training, and on January 8, the solution will be live and direct for Nigerians to have a good feel, a sweet experience based on the Renewed Hope of Mr President.”

Highlighting the reduced human contact in the passport acquisition process, Minister Tunji-Ojo expressed confidence that the initiative would enhance the country’s security architecture, enabling swift detection of fake passport applications and minimizing bottlenecks.

The Federal Government has set aside a total of N150 billion to execute poverty alleviation programs in 2024. This allocation is intended to support the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NPRGS) across four key pillars: macroeconomic stability, industrialization, structural policies/institutional reforms, and redistributive policies/programs.

In addition to the N150 billion dedicated to the NPRGS, the N28.77 trillion budget recently signed by President Bola Tinubu allocates N10.35 billion to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Currently, 15 million households are benefiting from the government’s N25,000 monthly grants through the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme.

The NPRGS, approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2021 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, aims to address poverty, especially in rural areas. The program is designed to run for ten years (2021-2031) with an estimated implementation cost of $1.6 trillion, averaging about $161 billion annually.

During the transition to the Bola Tinubu-led government, the previous administration asserted that 1.8 million “vulnerable Nigerians” had benefited from the program.

President Bola Tinubu recently reiterated his commitment to supporting a progressive, inclusive democracy focused on poverty elimination and quality education. Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized Tinubu’s dedication to economic revitalization, job creation, and poverty eradication, considering these key elements in the strategy to invigorate the economy.

In a recent development, President Bola Tinubu has officially signed the 2024 Appropriation Bill into law at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The signing took place on Monday afternoon shortly after his return from a week-long holiday in Lagos.

The approved budget stands at N28.7 trillion, reflecting a N1.2 trillion increase from the initial proposal presented to the National Assembly on November 29, 2023. Notably, President Tinubu highlighted a lower deficit compared to the previous year, amounting to N9.18 trillion, constituting 6.11% of the GDP.

To finance the deficit, the President outlined a strategy involving new borrowings totaling N7.83 trillion, N298.49 billion from Privatisation Proceeds, and N1.05 trillion drawdown on multilateral and bilateral loans earmarked for specific development projects.

President Tinubu reiterated the importance of adhering to the January-December implementation cycle, expressing the goal to have the Appropriation Act come into effect on January 1, 2024.

The Senate, on December 29, 2023, endorsed an increase in the 2024 budget by N1.2 trillion, elevating it from N27.5 trillion to N28.7 trillion. The Appropriation Committee, led by Senator Solomon Adeola, provided detailed allocations, with aggregate expenditure at N28,777,404,073,861; statutory transfers at N1,742,786,788,150; recurrent expenditure at N8,768,533,030,852; capital expenditure at N9,995,143,298,028; and GDP at 3.88%.

On January 1st, the wife of the President, Remi Tinubu, extended a warm welcome to the first baby of the year, Boluwatife Johnson, born at 12:03 am at the National Hospital in Abuja.

During her visit, Mrs. Tinubu took the opportunity to advocate for collaboration between influential individuals and the government to strengthen the healthcare delivery system. Emphasizing the importance of collective efforts, she stressed that the government alone cannot address all healthcare challenges.

In her address, Mrs. Tinubu urged nursing mothers to prioritize the well-being of their infants. She emphasized the significance of timely immunization, exclusive breastfeeding, and the provision of nutritious weaning foods for optimal brain development.

Additionally, the First Lady encouraged expectant mothers to take antenatal and postnatal care seriously, maintain hygienic conditions at home, practice birth spacing, register their babies with the National Population Commission, and enroll them in school at the appropriate age.

Mrs. Tinubu concluded her message by urging women to be aware of their HIV/AIDS status, emphasizing the importance of regular testing for the well-being of both mothers and infants.