FEATURES
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has outlined plans to spend ₦520 million on ambulance buses, ₦120 million on double bunk beds, and ₦35 million on life jackets as part of its 2025 budgetary allocations.
These expenditures, detailed in the 2025 Appropriation Bill, aim to enhance healthcare, safety, and accommodation for corps members across the country.
Ambulance Buses: ₦520 million is allocated for four ambulance buses, averaging ₦130 million per bus. This cost has raised questions about justification for such a high price.
SAED Centre: ₦300 million is earmarked for constructing a Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Centre. However, the absence of a specified location has drawn criticism over accessibility concerns for corps members.
Accommodation Enhancements: ₦120 million is designated for 1,000 double bunk beds, while ₦52 million is allocated for 1,000 mattresses. Despite these investments, details on the distribution of these resources remain unclear.
Safety and Utility: ₦35 million is set aside for life jackets, ₦45 million for boreholes in orientation camps, and ₦9 million for 50 biometric scanners. Again, the specific camps or locations benefiting from these allocations are not disclosed.
Other high-ticket items in the budget include: 160 Laptops: ₦136 million allocated for laptops intended for payment processing and biometric data management.
Pickup Vans: ₦400 million for four pickup vans, averaging ₦100 million per van, a figure critics deem excessive.
Miscellaneous Equipment: ₦78 million for an MF tractor, ₦24 million for solar-powered security lights, and ₦28.9 million for Man O’ War gadgets.
The absence of detailed breakdowns for these allocations, particularly the ambulances and pickup vans, has raised concerns about inflated costs and accountability.
While the proposed budget addresses some operational and welfare needs, critics argue it overlooks critical infrastructure improvements and advanced training programmes that could have a more significant impact on corps members’ development and well-being.
The NYSC’s 2025 budget reflects a commitment to improving corps members’ living conditions and operational efficiency. However, inflated costs, lack of specificity, and omitted details undermine confidence in its effective implementation. Transparency and accountability measures are essential to ensure the funds are allocated and utilized appropriately to address the NYSC’s core challenges.
As currency outside banks reach N4.65trn
Credit to govt rises 54%
Nigeria’s Broad Money Supply (M2) increased by 51 per cent Year-on-Year, YoY, to N108.96 trillion in November 2024 from N72.03 trillion in the corresponding period of 2023.
Broad Money Supply (M2) represents cash and demand deposits as well as savings deposits, money market deposits, and time deposits.
The increase in M2 reflects the high government domestic borrowing from the private sector which was reflected in the data.
According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Money and Credit Statistics data released yesterday, the M2 recorded a six-month increase since April 2024. Still, it reversed the trend in October 2024 declining month-on-month by 1.5 per cent to N107.7 trillion from N109.4 trillion in September 2024 and up again by 1.2 per cent to N108.96 trillion in November.
The report also showed that the YoY money supply increase followed positive component changes.
Quasi-money, including savings deposits, time deposits, and other near-money assets, also rose marginally.
The data showed that Quasi Money grew by 1.96 per cent YoY to N72.7 from N71.3 trillion in November 2023.
Similarly, Demand Deposits increased by 34.4 percent YoY to N31.6 trillion in November 2024 from N23.2 trillion in November 2023.
Currency outside banks increased by 50.9 percent YoY to N4.65 trillion in November 2024 from N3.08 trillion in November 2023.
Narrow money ( M1), also grew massively by 38 percent YoY to N36.3 trillion in November 2024 from N26.3 trillion in November 2023.
According to the CBN, credit to the government increased by 54 percent YoY to N39.6 trillion in November 2024 from N25.7 trillion in November 2023.
On the other hand, credit to the private sector rose YoY by 27 percent to N75.96 trillion in November 2024 from N59.7 trillion in November 2023.
This resulted in a 91 percent YoY rise in net domestic credit of N115.6 trillion in November 2024 from N60.5 trillion in the corresponding period of 2023.
In their Financial Year 2024 and 2025 outlook report, analysts at Afrinvest West Africa Limited, observed that the Federal Government, FG, is estimated to have borrowed N41.5 trillion from domestic and external sources (including the Naira equivalent of the recent Eurobond.
They said: “Budgeted revenue for the year is on course to underperform by no less than 25 percent, given the actual performance as of eight months.
“Disappointing crude oil output (at about 1.40mbpd vs 1.78mbpd budgeted) topped the risks to revenue performance, offsetting gains from non-oil tax revenue which outperformed the budget by 60.1 percent at N3.8 trillion.
“Debt servicing (43.7 percent) accounted for the largest share of the outlays, followed by non-debt recurrent expenditure with 28.9 percent share.
“The FG is estimated to have borrowed N41.5 trillion from domestic and external sources (including the Naira equivalent of the recent Eurobond). With this, FG’s total debt profile should gross N128 trillion, while the cumulative national debt profile is estimated at N138 trillion.
“Against this backdrop, we estimate that the actual deficit in 2024 would exceed the budgeted N9.2tn by 72.8 percent in the minimum should the total expenditure plan of N 35.1 trillion be fully accommodated.”
A Federal High Court in Abuja has okayed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s application to freeze 24 bank accounts domiciled in different banks over allegations bordering on terrorism financing.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted the application after EFCC’s lawyer, Martha Babatunde, moved an ex-parte motion to the effect, gave the commission the go-ahead to freeze the accounts for 90 days pending the conclusion of investigations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the motion ex-parte, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1897/V/2024, was filed by Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
Iheanacho sought an order freezing the bank accounts stated in the schedule which accounts are owned by Lawrence Lucky Eromosele who is currently being investigated in a case involving kidnapping pending the conclusion of the investigation.
He said the bank accounts in respect of which the reliefs were sought are subject to matters of investigation by the EFCC about money laundering and terrorism financing.
The senior lawyer said preliminary investigations conducted thus far revealed that the bank accounts are linked to persons who take advantage of the virtual cryptocurrency exchange platforms to illegally manipulate the value of naira and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities.
He said there is need to preserve the funds in the identified bank accounts pending the conclusion of investigation and possible prosecution.
In the affidavit deposed to by Mohammed Khalil, an investigator attached to the Special Investigation Team of the EFCC domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, he said he was a member of the team assigned to investigate the matter.
He said the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, directed the team to investigate a serious threat by a syndicate threatening the lives of senior operatives of the NSA by making demands for payments of ransom.
He said on receipt of the directive, the team began investigation by conducting surveillance of the activities on these syndicates, requesting bank instruments.
Kalil said investigation revealed Lawrence Lucky Eromosele as one of the perpetrators of the crime.
According to him, the operatives received a direct threat involving their families, with the perpetrators providing the homes addresses, family locations and specific movements with a threat to kidnap following failure to remit redemption payments.
He alleged that “one unknown individual contacted an operative, demanding some monies in exchange for their freedom and that of their families.”
“Attached and marked as Exhibit EFCC 1 is the printout of the chat between one of the perpetrators and the operative.”
The officer said in a bid to mitigate some of the threats, the team had identified bank accounts linked to the individuals making the threats.
“Attached and marked as Exhibit EFCC 2 are the bank statements of one of the suspects.
“Further intelligence has revealed that proceeds of crimes and funds for terrorist activities are covertly exchanged through these platforms,” he said.
Kalil said the order of the court is necessary to freeze the said accounts clearly described in Schedule 1 to the motion paper for which investigation is ongoing.
Upon resumed hearing, Babatunde, who appeared for EFCC, informed the court that the motion was dated and filed on December 17.
She said the motion prayed for an order freezing the bank accounts in the schedule attached to the application.
The lawyer urged the court to grant the relief.
When Justice Nwite asked her for how long the investigation would be conducted, Babatunde said within 90 days.
The judge, who granted the prayer, adjourned the matter until March 24, 2025, for mention
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the sum of 49, 700. 00 US dollars allegedly recovered from Dr Nura Ali, former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for Sokoto State in the 2023 general elections.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), moved an ex-parte motion to the effect.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) was the applicant, Ali was the sole respondent in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024.
The motion, dated Dec. 20 and filed Dec. 24, was jointly filed by the ICPC and the Department of State Service (DSS).
Mr Usman Dauda, the Director of Legal, signed the application on DSS’ behalf, Akponimisingha, Assistant Chief Legal Officer in ICPC, was part of the legal team that drafted the process.
The motion sought an order of the court temporarily forfeiting the sum of $49,700.00 (forty-nine thousand, seven hundred dollars), “recovered from one Dr. Nura Ali during a search operation by the Federal Government of Nigeria being property suspected to be proceed of an unlawful activity.”
It also sought an order directing the applicant i.e., the FRN, through the ICPC and the DSS to jointly conduct a thorough preliminary investigation into the alleged unlawful activities of Ali, in respect of the moveable property sought to be forfeited and make a report to the court within 90 days.
It sought an order directing the applicant i.e., FRN, through the ICPC and the DSS to deposit the 49,700.00 dollars in an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN.
The application equally sought an order directing the applicant to publish a notice in any national newspaper calling for persons whether, human, juristic or artificial, having Interest in the money to show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Giving nine grounds why the application should be granted, the applicant said the victim of the alleged crime was the Federal Government of Nigeria and innocent taxpayers which include judges of courts across the country.
It said the money was recovered during a search operation by operatives of the DSS at the residence of Ali.
“The alleged moveable property of $49,700.00 was bribe money received by Dr Nura Ali when he was the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Sokoto State.
“The alleged moveable property is not the legitimate earning of Dr Ali as independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner.
“The alleged moveable property is suspected to be proceed of crime,” it said.
The applicant argued that INEC does not pay its staff members with United States Dollar as salaries or allowances.
It said the essence of the application was not to compulsorily acquire the alleged moveable property from the alleged owner, but to preserve the property from dissipation.
It said if the court grants the reliefs sought, interested persons including the alleged owner will be given opportunity to offer an explanation as to the legitimacy of the alleged property.
“Where cogent and verifiable explanation exists as to how the property was acquired, devoid of crime, the alleged owner or any other person having proprietary interest in the property will be allowed unrestricted possession of the property.
“This application is not in conflict with the provisions of Sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which guarantee the rights of citizens of Nigeria to acquire and own immoveable and moveable properties in any part of Nigeria,” it said.
When the matter was called, Akponimisingha, who appeared for the FRN, told the court that the motion ex-parte prayed the court for four orders.
The lawyer said four exhibits were attached to the motion, including Exhibit DSS 1 to Exhibit DSS 4.
He urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice.
He said a search was conducted in Ali’s residence in Kano and the sum of 49, 700, 000 US dollars was retrieved from the building.
He told the court that Ali allegedly said that the sum of $150, 000 US dollars was given to him by the former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, and Sen. Aliyu Wamakko.
The ICPC lawyer, who alleged that Ali made this disclosure in his extra-judicial statement to the DSS, said the former REC also wrote a letter to the security outfit in the bid to reclaim the money.
He insisted that INEC does not pay his workers or RECs in dollars.
Also in the affidavit in support of the motion ex-parte deposed to by Iliya Markus, a litigation officer with ICPC, he said that Akponimisingha informed him that he read through the case file and comprehended facts forming the allegations leading to the execution of e search warrant by operatives of the DSS at Ali’s residence.
Markus said the DSS received an intelligence report on Dr Ali on allegations of bribery received from stakeholders, i.e politicians in the course of his official duties as INEC REC in charge of Sokoto State.
He said the intelligence report was processed and residence of Ali in Kano was searched pursuant to a search warrant executed jointly by operatives of the ICPC and DSS.
“A copy of the search warrant is hereby attached and marked as exhibit DSS 1,” he said.
The officer said in the course of the execution of the search warrant, the sum of $47,000.00 was recovered from the house.
According to him, Dr Ali also made statement(s) with respect to the search on his residence and the subsequent recovery of the alleged $49,700.00.
“A copy of the said extra-judicial statement is hereby attached and marked as exhibit DSS 2,” he said.
He said invitation letters had been written to invite persons he claimed gifted him the alleged $49,700.00.
“I also know as a fact that Dr Nura Ali did not report the gift of the alleged $49,700.00 to any law enforcement agency as required by extant laws of the land.
“Dr Ali had in the past written letters to the State Security Services requesting for release of the alleged $49,700.00 bribe money to him.
“Copies of the said letters are hereby attached and marked as exhibits DSS 3 & 4 respectively,” he said.
Markus said the investigation was yet to be concluded, hence, the need for the 90 days’ application.
Justice Nwite, who said that the application was meritorious, granted the prayers.
The judge adjourned the matter until Jan. 30, for report of compliance on the publication in the media and adjourned until March 31 for hearing of the matter
Popular activist and political commentator based in Kaduna, Mahdi Shehu, has been reportedly arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) following allegations related to a misleading video that poses potential risks to national security.
According to a renowned counterinsurgency expert concentrating on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, Shehu was arrested over the weekend after the said video circulated widely on social media, raising alarms regarding its sensitive content.
Naija News reported earlier that the presidency slammed Shehu and accused him of attempting to cause anarchy in Northern Nigeria.
Shehu had recently made several allegations against the federal government about establishing a French military base in Nigeria’s northeast.
He also shared a series of videos claiming to show Nigerian and French troops offloading supplies in a coordinated operation.
Although Shehu promptly removed the video, it had already gone viral across social media platforms.
In a post via X on Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, stated that Mahdi Shehu is hell-bent on burning Northern Nigeria with the use of old videos to pass off his allegation.
Dada warned Nigerians to beware of fake news merchants like Shehu.
Mahdi Shehu Is DSS Custody
In a publication, however, on Monday, Makama said Shehu is currently being held in custody in Kaduna and may soon face legal proceedings.
Makama quoted sources to have suggested that the charges pertain to the dissemination of outdated footage that inaccurately implied the Nigerian government was planning to establish a French military base in the North-West region.
He noted that authorities are said to have issued instructions for Shehu’s arraignment while ensuring that his rights are respected during his detention.
Furthermore, it has been highlighted that Shehu has a history of legal troubles, including a previous arrest for attempted extortion, as noted by former Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami.
Shehu’s legal representative argued that the arrest was politically motivated and linked to demands for an investigation into former President Muhammadu Buhari and his associates.
In contrast, Malami’s firm maintained that Shehu was detained for extortion and related offences.
[NaijaNews]
A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has slammed former presidential media aide, Reno Omokri, amid the backlash between him and supporters of President Bola Tinubu.
Naija News reports that El-rufai had earlier shared and supported an article by a frontline columnist, Farooq Kperogi accusing the President of recruiting his tribesmen into the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL).
In the article, titled “Tinubu’s Buharisation of the NNPC,” Kperogi described as embarrassing the president’s “relentless Yorubacentric take-over of the NNPC,” as the Northerners did under the immediate past administration Muhammadu Buhari.
Reacting to the article, El-Rufai posted on X: “DECEMBER MESSAGE: Two wrongs do not make a right. Sensible inclusion always trumps arrogant exclusion.”
His reaction, however, attracted backlash from the presidency and supporters of President Tinubu including Reno Omokri.
Reacting, Omokri in a series of posts on his X and Facebook pages, berated El-Rufai over the remark about Tinubu.
One of the posts reads, “Just imagine, Nasir El-Rufai, a man who publicly admitted to using government money to pay killer herdsmen, is today complaining that the Tinubu administration is using government money to build a railway in Lagos.
“Maybe he would have preferred if the money was used to pay Boko Haram.”
Responding to Omokri’s attacks, El-Rufai who shared old posts of Reno campaigning against a “drug baron in Aso Rock”, wrote, “NIGERIA UPDATE – The interesting lifecycle of Wendell Simlin, also sometimes retained as a political mercenary by any person or government that can pay”.
Kinsmen of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, have appealed to the former governor of the state, Peter Odili, to forgive their brother (Wike) over his recent statement against him (Odili).
DAILY POST recalls that Wike had stated that he restored life to Odili and his family, noting that Odili has no justification to speak against him.
The former governor, Odili, had earlier said that Governor Siminialayi Fubara, has successfully prevented one man from converting the state into his private estate.
Responding to the statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital, a group of Wike’s kinsmen, Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership, frowned at the attack by Wike on Odili, stating that it was unnecessary.
President General of the body, Chizy Enyi, who is a kinsman of the Minister of FCT, said it was wrong for Wike to say many unprintable things against Odili.
Enyi expressed concerns that Wike was referring to the same man whom he had declared was responsible for his success in politics.
“Our worry is that this is the same Nyesom Wike, who publicly in a live television said that if not for Sir Dr. Peter Odili and his wife, he could not have made it to be the governor of Rivers State.
“He swore that any day, he would say anything that would make the family of Dr. Odili to cry, that God should not allow him to grow. However, we have come to a realisation that his stock in trade is to say one thing and do another. In the same way, he bragged that he could never be a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria again, and today, what is he?
“It is an obvious fact that the only Rivers man, living and dead, who has wanted to personalise Rivers State as his personal structure, is Nyesom Wike. We are all aware of the issues with the governor of Rivers State, Sir Sim Fubara, and Nyesom Wike is on who is to control the resources and structure of the state,” he said.
Enyi pointed out that Wike has become a showman because despite his duty as a minister, he returns to the state to cause issues, adding that the showmanship is affecting the development of the state.
He, therefore, pleaded with Odili to forgive the minister, stressing that it is Wike that wants to personalize the state.
“Wike’s showmanship is not good for Rivers development. Wike should always know what to say and how to say it. We hold Odili to a high esteem. Wike cannot reduce the golden governor to nothing.
“The showmanship of Nyesom Wike, in trying to be noticed always, has done more harm than good to him. Yet, he does not want to learn his lessons.
“On behalf of Rivers people, Nyesom Wike, inclusive, we apologise to Sir Dr. Peter Odili, the former Golden Governor of Rivers State and his family, as we plead with him to forgive Nyesom Wike, who does not have respect and regard for humanity,” he added.
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In 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration introduced bold reforms to address Nigeria’s long-standing economic and social challenges.
Key initiatives include approving an increase in the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 and signing the Student Loan Bill into law, among others.
Here is a list of the administration’s major policies and actions in 2024:
1. Minimum Wage Bill: President Tinubu, on 29 July, approved a minimum wage increase from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, ending months of deliberations between government authorities, labour unions, and the private sector. Following Tinubu’s signing of the bill, several governors have vowed to pay more than ₦70,000 to workers in their states.
2. Student Loan Bill: President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, 3 April 2024, signed into law the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2024. The Act seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skills development for all Nigerian students and youths. The Act also established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides financial aid to students pursuing higher education in tertiary institutions.
3. National Anthem Act 2024: On 29 May, President Tinubu signed the National Anthem Act 2024, reinstating “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the country’s national anthem. This anthem was originally in use until 1978.
4. Judicial Office Holders’ Salaries and Allowances Bill: On 13 August, President Tinubu signed a bill to increase the salaries and allowances of judges by 300 per cent. There have been calls for judges’ salaries to be raised.
5. Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill 2024: Signed into law on 9 February, this bill introduces several reforms to the Nigerian electricity sector. These reforms include:
Host Community Development: 5% of power-generating companies’ annual operating expenditures will be set aside for infrastructure projects in host communities.
Transmission System Operator: A new entity responsible for operating, maintaining, and expanding the national grid.
Open Market Platform: A platform allowing competitive electricity trading among market participants.
6. Crude-for-naira deal: The Federal Government commenced the sale of crude oil and other refined products in naira on 1 October 2024. The Technical Sub-Committee on Domestic Sales of Crude Oil in Local Currency announced earlier in September that the Federal Executive Council, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, approved the sale of crude to local refineries in naira, along with the corresponding purchase of petroleum products in naira.
7. LG financial autonomy: On 11 July 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgement affirming the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Councils. The seven-member panel, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, unanimously upheld a suit brought by the federal government aimed at reinforcing the independence of local governments across the country.
8. Port Harcourt Refinery: The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Tuesday, 26 November, announced that the Port Harcourt Refinery has commenced operations. After shutting down for five years, the Port Harcourt Refinery has resumed production of petroleum products.
[TheNation]
The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has presented N1.188 trillion as a budgetary estimate for the 2025 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
This figure is an increase from the 2024 budget of N800 billion that was presented in 2023 to the Assembly.
Fubara presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill shortly after delivering his address to lawmakers at the Assembly Auditorium, Administrative Block of Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.
He said the 2025 budget, christened “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development,” will be implemented to achieve sustainable economic growth and accelerate the development of the state while improving the living standards of all residents.
Fubara explained that with the set-out objectives, the 2025 budget will strengthen the capacity of the state to weather possible external shocks from the volatility of the national economy while building a resilient economy that will advance the collective development and prosperity of the people.
He said, “The total projected revenue for Rivers State for the 2025 fiscal year is N1,188,962,739,932.36.
“Two components of the budget are constituted as follows: Recurrent Expenditure of N462,254,153,418.98; Capital Expenditure of N678,088,433,692.03; Planning Reserve of N35,688,864,931.16; and a closing balance of N12,931,287,890.1935.
“This gives a Recurrent/Capital Expenditure ratio of 44:56%, indicating the sincere commitment of our administration to both infrastructural and human capital development of our people and state.”
The governor said nearly N31 billion has been allocated to support interventions in agricultural development to ease the implementation of a comprehensive agriculture transformation and support programme for Rivers youths in order to significantly resolve issues of youth unemployment and poverty.
He emphasised that the commitment is also to address food insecurity in Rivers State, and provide land preparation, farm inputs, and extension services, including training, tractors, and access to improved seedlings and fertilisers to farmers to enhance their productivity and farm yields.
In education, Governor Fubara assured that his administration will continue to provide access to quality education at all levels, enabling Rivers children to have the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their careers and contribute to the development of the state.
The governor said, “Consequently, we have proposed to spend over N63 billion, representing 9.3% of the budget on education in fiscal year 2025.
“With this, we shall access all outstanding matching grants from the Universal Basic Education Commission to rehabilitate, equip and furnish dilapidated public primary and junior secondary schools, and continue to provide free basic education to our children.
“We will also rehabilitate, equip and furnish as many senior secondary schools as possible across the State, including the provision of new classrooms, perimeter fencing, water and electricity, to provide a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning to take place.
“We shall work with the school-based management boards, administrators, parents and teachers to fix our broken school system, improve enrollments, keep learners in school, promote effective teaching, and improve learning outcomes.”
Fubara said with the proposed N97.750 billion for the health sector, representing 14.4% of the budget, all zonal hospitals, the upgraded neuropsychiatric hospital, and the new general hospital at Rumuigbo under reconstruction will be completed to provide quality and affordable healthcare services to the people of the State.
He also assured of rehabilitating more general hospitals and health centres across the state, ensuring the procurement of essential drugs, medical supplies and equipment for effective and efficient healthcare delivery, while also providing more infrastructure to strengthen the capacity of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital for quality, effective, and efficient tertiary healthcare services.
On Road and Transport Infrastructure, Governor Fubara said over N195 billion has been earmarked to complete all ongoing road projects and initiate new ones, support and facilitate the modernisation of the public transport system through necessary incentives to improve the quality of public transportation services in the State.
Fubara assured that all ongoing electrification projects, including delivering transformers and replacing the generator-powered streetlights with solar energy-powered streetlights across Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, will be concluded and restated the determination to ensure the passage of the Rivers State Electricity Market Bill to regulate and open the State’s energy sector for private sector investments in order to achieve energy security and accelerate the industrialization of Rivers State.
He said, “In Social Development and Investments, Mr Speaker, we have proposed to spend N15.4 billion for the social development subsector of our economy to advance youth and gender empowerment, jobs and wealth creation, sports development, and social inclusion.
“We will collaborate with Local Government Councils to establish youth resource and digital transformation centres to enable access to digital tools, Internet services and training programmes for our youths to become economically successful and sufficiently self-reliant.
“We will also continue to support and strengthen the capacity of state-owned sporting teams, especially Rivers United, Rivers Angels, and the Hoopers, to enable them to excel and win more laurels in both national, regional and international contests.”
Fubara, who said the 2025 will be funded from FAAC, Internally Generated Revenue, Statutory Allocations, Mineral Funds, Valued Added Tax, Refunds/Escrow/ECA and others, explained that the 2014 budget performed excellently with the IGR figure hitting N100billion increase over the 2023 figure.
In his speech, the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, applauded Fubara for recording over N100 billion increase in IGR, which he said shows a high level of transparency and accountability in governance, with the plugging of financial leakage, adding that it is also a testament to how attractive Rivers investment climate has become.
Oko-Jumbo pledged the continual support of the Legislature to the executive to ensure that the governor remains focused, sustains financial prudence, delivers democratic dividends, and to make life better for the people.
[Punch]
As the New Year approaches, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how you lived your life and get ready for a fresh start to create a purposeful and fulfilling year.
Here are five essential things to consider before stepping into the New Year:
1. Prioritise your self-care
As you start the New Year, taking care of yourself should be your first priority. Examine your present self-care routines, noting what worked and what didn’t, and make plans for improvement. This could entail establishing a consistent exercise schedule, engaging in mindfulness or meditation, eating a healthy diet, or just finding more time for leisure and hobbies. Making your health a top priority lays a solid basis for confronting the upcoming year.
2. Financial planning
Your general well-being is greatly influenced by your financial situation. Review your present financial status, taking into account your debt, savings, and spending. Establish attainable financial objectives, such as budgeting, emergency savings, or investment planning. Careful financial planning offers security for the upcoming months and lessens stress.
3. Organise and clean your space
A neat and tidy environment enhances clarity of thought. Make use of this opportunity to tidy and arrange your house, office, and even digital documents. Get rid of things you don’t need, clear out your inbox, and organize your living space. A neat and orderly workspace not only increases output but also fosters a successful, peaceful environment.
4. Set goals for the New Year
The New Year provides a fresh start for making plans and objectives. Make sure your objectives are clear, measurable, and achievable, whether they are artistic, professional, or personal. To make them easier to achieve, break them down into smaller steps (short and long-term goals). Establishing specific goals gives you focus and inspiration to keep going all year long.
5. Evaluate relationships
The basis of happiness and pleasure is relationships. Think about the relationships you have in your life, both personal and professional. Determine which relationships make you happy and supportive, and then consider how you may strengthen them. On the other hand, think about removing yourself from relationships that are exhausting or harmful. Make an effort to develop meaningful relationships that improve your life.
Organising your home, prioritizing self-care, creating goals, budgeting your finances, and assessing your relationships are five factors that can help you start the New Year with clarity, purpose, and positivity.
Make sure the upcoming year is one of success, balance, and progress by taking the time to think things through and get ready. Make next year the best for yourself.