The Job Creation and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Secretariat, under the Office of the Vice President, has partnered with renowned musician and entrepreneur, Innocent Idibia (Tuface) to rally public support for the MSMEs sector.

The partnership was formalized on Friday in Abuja, with Tuface and Mr. Tola Adekunle-Johnson, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, signing the agreement.

Adekunle-Johnson emphasized that Tuface’s role as a brand ambassador for job creation and MSMEs would help advance initiatives under the National MSMEs Awards.

He highlighted the initiative’s focus on the Expanded National MSMEs Clinics, the Shared Hubs for MSMEs, and various job creation activities.

The presidential aide expressed confidence that Tuface’s influence and reputation would encourage public engagement in these programs, which aim to foster job opportunities and support small businesses.

“We thought of how best we can sustain the momentum of creating jobs and promoting all the activities of the MSMES, awards, hubs, and the single-digit loan.

“And in trying to consistently promote this, we looked at areas that are of interest to some of our target audience, and you will agree with me it is the entertainment or creative industry.

“Today we are unveiling who I regard as an icon, a legend in the game, he has been consistent with his craft and a very creative man in the person of Mr. Innocent Idibia (Tuface).

“This partnership with Tuface will help galvanise private sector support for public sector initiatives aimed at creating jobs and supporting businesses,” he said.

Responding to the partnership, Tuface thanked President Tinubu’s administration for its focus on youth and small businesses.

He pledged to raise awareness about MSMEs, particularly among young Nigerians, and expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him.

“I appreciate the vote of confidence, I appreciate the kind words, for me I’m excited about this. It is a very good move in a good direction.

“Most of our youths today, there are so many things going that they can easily be deviated from following the right positive trajectory of life.

“But with this, people might even under estimates the power and value that this will bring to both the individuals, their communities and the country as a whole.

“So, for me I really commend this initiative, I commend the show of concern and show of support from the government towards young people, small businesses,” Tuface remarked.

Also, Deputy Director, Office of Trade and International Relations, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs Sarah Ajayi, emphasized the importance of entertainment in engaging youth, noting that Tuface’s influence would be instrumental in reaching the younger demographic.

“Entertainment is what attracts the youth.

“Most of them are given to entertainment, so having Tuface as our brand ambassador is a good one,” Ajayi said.

The 33-year-old woman, Comfort Olajumoke Olalere Tinubu, who was accused of stabbing her husband, Oluwasegun Tinubu,39, to death, was on Thursday, remanded  at Agodi Correctional facility, Ibadan, by an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The police charged Olalere with a count of murder.
 
The prosecutor, Cpl. Akeem Akinloye, told the court that the defendant stabbed Oluwasegun with a knife during a disagreement at their house, at Zone 5, Gbelu, Iyana – Agbala, Ibadan at 9.00 p.m. on October 30, 2024.
 
He said the offence contravened Section 316 and is punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.
 
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, who did not take the defendant’s plea for lack of jurisdiction, ordered her remand pending the legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
 
She, thereafter, adjourned the case until March 5, 2025 for mention.

As part of the commitment of the Federal government to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates, the minister of health, Ali Pate has announced a major healthcare policy to provide caesarean sections (C-sections) free of charge to women across the country.

Pate made the announcement in Abuja during the launch of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII) at the Joint Annual Review (JAR) of the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) for health. The initiative, focusing on improving maternal and newborn health, will prioritize access to essential healthcare, especially in underserved communities.

“This is in further effort to reduce maternal mortality in the country,” Pate said. “No woman should lose her life simply because she can’t afford a C-section.”

The policy aims to remove financial barriers for women in need of C-sections, whether due to emergency complications or planned deliveries. It is designed to strengthen primary healthcare and increase community engagement in maternal health.

The initiative has received support from the World Health Organization (WHO), with WHO’s Nigeria Country Representative, Walter Mulombo, emphasizing the importance of effective implementation. “If implemented right, this initiative will deliver. We’re here to support every step of the way,” Mulombo stated.

During the event, Pate also called for Nigerians to hold government accountable for ensuring accessible and quality healthcare in line with President Tinubu’s focus on healthcare reform.

The President of Ghana,  Nana Akufo-Addo has unveiled a statue of himself at the Western Region of Ghana.

The golden statue was unveiled on Wednesday, November 6, at the entrance of Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi during his tour of the Western Region

It was gathered that the Chief, Elders, and people of the Western Region pulled a surprise on President Akufo-Addo when they ushered him to unveil a statue of himself at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi.

The statue was said to recognise his administration’s contributions to the region’s development.

The Regional Minister, Kwabena Darko-Mensah, who led the unveiling ceremony, praised the president for several major projects initiated under his administration, including the start of a petroleum hub project in Western Nzema.

The unveiling of the statue comes just a few months before Akufo-Addo will step down from office after two terms as president.

A Harare woman, Shamiso Zuze, has filed a suit, demanding US$100 per month from her former partner, Givemore Gonye, whom she accused of causing her significant emotional and physical pain during their two-year relationship.

Zuze brought the case to the Harare Civil Court, arguing that Gonye’s actions, including alleged infidelity and disrespect, warrant financial compensation.

The Federal Government has expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their resilience amid the challenging effects of recent economic reforms, assuring that these changes are now yielding positive results.

Speaking at an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Finance, led by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun acknowledged the sacrifices made by Nigerians. He noted that the “teething problems” from reforms are easing as indicators of economic improvement begin to emerge.

Edun stated, “The two critical reforms—market-based pricing for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and foreign exchange adjustments—are now at the stage of delivering results. These pillars of reform strengthen our economy by enhancing fiscal viability and laying a solid foundation for growth.”

“These reforms,” he continued, “will generate additional government revenue, support the recovery of NNPCL’s finances, and foster economic growth through increased investment and job creation. We commend Nigerians for enduring to this point where benefits are beginning to materialize.”

In his opening remarks, Senator Musa described the session as a fact-finding discussion on the impact of various reforms, saying, “Today, we gather to examine the implications of selling crude oil to domestic refineries in Naira and its effect on the medium-term expenditure framework for 2024-2026, as well as projections for 2025-2027.”

He added, “We will also address revenue shortfalls, focusing on foreign and domestic excess crude accounts, signature bonus accounts, and the NNPCL cash call account. This meeting reaffirms our commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible resource management.”

Musa expressed confidence in the collaboration of the Finance Ministry, Office of the Accountant General, Central Bank of Nigeria, Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission, and other key stakeholders to find solutions and uphold due process for the benefit of the economy and the Nigerian people.

The session was attended by Finance Minister Wale Edun, NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari, NUPRC Director General Gbenga Komolafe, and representatives from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Later, Senate President Godswill Akpabio joined the meeting behind closed doors.

A 40-year-old Nigerian national, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, was arrested on arrival at an airport in Texas on charges linked to a multi-million-dollar romance fraud scheme.

Nwadialo, indicted in December 2023 by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington, faces 14 counts of wire fraud.

The defendant allegedly scammed victims out of up to $2 million by posing as a romantic partner deployed in the U.S. military.

Nwadialo was traveling from Nigeria when he was taken into custody. He is now set to be transported to the Western District of Washington for arraignment.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman disclosed the challenges of prosecuting defendants involved in overseas romance scams, stating, “All too often, the defendants in these romance scams are overseas and unreachable by U.S. law enforcement.”

She commended the investigators for their persistence in bringing the defendant to justice.

According to the indictment and criminal complaint filed in the case, Nwadialo allegedly defrauded victims of more than $3.3 million.

Nwadialo used various versions of the name ‘Giovanni” when he met his victims online on websites such as Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café. Nwadialo used false images for his profile and typically told the victims that he was in the military and deployed overseas so he could not meet the victims in person.

Gorman said, "Using these personas, Nwadialo invented many reasons he needed the victims to send him money. In one such case in 2020, he indicated he had been fined by the military for revealing his location to the victim.

"He asked the victim to help him pay the $150,000 fine. In all, that victim was defrauded of at least $2.4 million.”

Meanwhile, a second victim was contacted in 2019 to help move funds from U.S. accounts to accounts controlled by the defendant and his co-schemers.

"In this instance Nwadialo represented that he needed the help moving money in connection with his father’s death. The victim transferred at least $330,000 to the accounts controlled by the defendant,” Gorman said.

Gorman explained that a third victim was defrauded by Nwadialo when he told her that he was investing money for her.

"He claimed that a check she received from another victim was proceeds from her investments and he had her “reinvest” the money in a specific cryptocurrency account that he controlled. The victim transferred at least $270,000 at Nwadialo’s direction,” Gorman said.

According to the statement, in August 2020, Nwadialo defrauded another victim who he met on an online dating site and caused this victim to transfer at least $310,000 by claiming he needed financial assistance, including help paying for his father’s funeral or his son’s school tuition.

"The fourteen counts of wire fraud relate to the communications with Nwadialo and the wiring of funds from victims to the defendant and his co-schemers.

Gorman noted that wire fraud is punishable by up to twenty years in prison.

"The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” the statement said.

Gorman further stated that the FBI is investigating the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sok Jiang.

The Federal Government has revealed plans to provide Nigerians with at least 20 hours of daily electricity by 2027.

However, it has conditioned this target on sufficient investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which it has said is currently far below expectations.

The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, made this statement at the Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa, in a release by the State House Director of Information and Publicity, Abiodun Oladunjoye, on Thursday.

“By 2027, Nigeria aims to ensure 20 hours of electricity daily for consumers in urban areas and industrial hubs,” Verheijen said.

The statement is titled, ‘At African Energy Week in Cape Town, Olu Verheijen Invites Global Players to Invest in Nigeria’s Energy Sector.’

Verheijen’s comments come amid the frequent collapse of Nigeria’s national power grid, which has led to widespread blackouts across the country.

The grid collapsed on Tuesday, marking the 10th such incident since January 2024. The Federal Government has attributed these recurring collapses to ageing infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, and insufficient investment in the power sector.

Despite having an installed capacity of approximately 12,500 megawatts, Nigeria often generates only a fraction of this, leaving many areas without reliable electricity.

At the Energy Week, Verheijen told participants about efforts by the Tinubu administration to revitalise the nation’s power sector, with plans to provide more reliable electricity access for the 86 million Nigerians currently underserved.

She said the scheme aims to improve revenue assurance and collection.
Other key measures include tackling legacy debt, deploying seven million smart meters to reduce losses, and expanding off-grid solutions for remote communities.

Highlighting recent macroeconomic reforms, such as the removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign exchange liberalisation, she expressed confidence that Nigeria is poised for unprecedented growth.

“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is championing reforms to unlock its vast economic potential and create jobs,” she said, inviting foreign partners to participate in Nigeria’s next chapter of growth.

While discussing the recent reforms implemented by President Bola
Tinubu’s administration to attract investment, Verheijen noted that the country has historically underperformed in oil and gas production despite its wealth in the sector.

She referenced how countries like Brazil, which have only 30 per cent of Nigeria’s oil reserves, have outperformed Nigeria by producing 131 per cent more than the country’s current output.

“Despite our abundant resources, we have underperformed against our potential. For example, Brazil holds only 30 per cent of Nigeria’s oil reserves but produces 131 per cent more. This is largely due to under-investment,” she said.

She lamented that since 2016, Nigeria has attracted only 4 per cent of African oil and gas investments, while investment has surged in other, less resource-rich nations.

“Since 2016, Nigeria has managed to attract only 4 per cent of total investments in oil and gas, while less-resourced countries in Africa have enjoyed a larger share.

“When we analysed investment data, we also found that, between 2013, when Nigeria’s last deepwater project reached FID, and now, International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria have committed more than $82bn in deepwater investments in other countries they deemed to be more attractive destinations for their capital,” she told the audience.

Recognising this trend, the presidential aide highlighted efforts by President Tinubu’s administration to enact reforms aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s investment landscape.

She cited the government’s introduction of fiscal incentives targeting deep offshore and non-associated gas projects, marking the first time Nigeria has outlined a fiscal framework specifically for deepwater gas.

In efforts to enhance the upstream oil and gas sector, she said her office has collaborated closely with the office of the National Security Adviser to create and distribute focused Security Directives, leveraging insights gathered from on-the-ground operators.

Furthermore, Verheijen revealed steps to streamline approval processes by clearly defining the regulatory scopes involved.

This initiative, she said, aims to significantly reduce the extended project timelines that have historically plagued the industry, as well as the high-cost premiums associated with operating in Nigeria.

“Our target is to shorten the contracting timelines from an extensive 38 months to just 135 days, while also working to eliminate the 40 per cent cost premium that currently exists within the Nigerian petroleum industry,” she added.

The presidential aide also revealed efforts by the current President Tinubu administration to further open up the oil and gas sector for larger investments with a set of clear fiscal incentives for non-associated gas and deep offshore oil and gas exploration and production.

“This is the first time that Nigeria is outlining a fiscal framework for deepwater gas since exploration in the basin commenced in 1991,” she said.

According to her, amongst other initiatives, there has been a focus on midstream and downstream investments in compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and electric vehicles as part of the Presidential Gas for Growth Initiative.

She added that the administration has also worked to streamline regulatory processes, shorten project timelines, and reduce the high-cost premium of operating in Nigeria.

“We have also introduced fiscal incentives to catalyse investments in the midstream and downstream sectors, including compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and mini-liquefied natural gas.

“These align with the broader Presidential Gas for Growth Initiative, which seeks to enable the displacement of PMS and diesel in three key sectors: heavy transport, decentralised power generation, and cooking. These incentives are also stimulating demand for electric vehicles.

“Our goal is to eliminate the 40 per cent cost premium within the Nigerian petroleum industry and cut down contracting timelines from 38 months to 135 days,” Verheijen stated.

She said the government has unlocked over $1bn across the energy value chain, with two more major investment projects expected by mid-2025.

“We are also facilitating the transfer of onshore and shallow water assets to local companies with the capacity to grow production while supporting the transition of International Oil Companies with resilient capital into deep offshore and integrated gas.

“We have unlocked over $1 billion in investments across the value chain and by the middle of 2025, we expect to see FID on two more projects, including a multibillion-dollar deepwater exploration project, which will be the first of its kind in Nigeria in over a decade – one of many to come,” Verheijen explained.

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has stated that Nigeria is undergoing a fundamental and disruptive reset, following the removal of subsidies by President Bola Tinubu.

Soludo made this remark during Veritas University’s 13th convocation lecture in Abuja, on Thursday.

The lecture, titled ‘Let Us Make a New Deal for Nigeria’, explored ways to address the country’s challenges.

Soludo noted the need to transition from subsidies, which largely benefitted the urban elite, to a productive social contract that creates opportunities for all.

He explained that the country has ended the harmful fuel, foreign exchange, and electricity subsidies.

“We have entered a ‘muddling-through’ phase that requires careful navigation,” Soludo said.

He acknowledged that, despite other issues, the military regimes invested in education during Nigeria’s early oil booms.

Soludo urged Nigerians to craft a pragmatic new deal for the country, as well as an emergency national infrastructure plan, similar to the United States Marshal Plan used to rebuild Europe after World War II.

He encouraged Nigerian leaders to draw inspiration from the marshal plan to implement public works projects, financial reforms, and regulatory changes that could transform the nation.

He also highlighted positive signs, such as the minimum wage legislation, the draft tax reform bill, and planned cash transfers.

He called for historic coordination between federal and state governments to ensure swift implementation of these reforms.

Soludo urged the graduating students to actively contribute to the country’s future.

He said, “The future you seek is in your hands. Only those who plan can control the future. While Nigeria may not have given you much, you are expected to give more than you have received.”

He encouraged them to participate in shaping the nation’s destiny.

The United States President Joe Biden has asked Americans to accept the victory of Republican Party candidate Donald Trump in the presidential election.

On November 6, Trump won the presidential election after exceeding the magic number of 270 electoral college votes.

Trump defeated Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party, who has 219 electoral college votes.

Harris has congratulated Trump on his electoral victory.

During a speech on Thursday at the White House Rose Garden, Biden said, “We accept the choice the country made.”

“I know for some people, it’s time for victory to state the obvious. For others, it’s a time of loss,” the US president said.

“Campaigns are contests of competing visions. The country chooses one or the other.

“I’ve said many times, you can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbour only when you agree.

“I will do my duty as president. I’ll fulfil my oath and honour the Constitution. On January 20, we will have a peaceful transfer of power here in America.

“Remember, defeat does not mean we are defeated. We lost this battle. The America of your dream is calling for you to get back up.

“The America experiment endures. We are going to be okay, but we need to stay engaged. We need to keep going. Above all, we need to keep the faith.”