Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has taken a strong stance against the rising kidnapping and criminal activities within the state.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for new commissioners in Calabar, Otu announced a crackdown on criminals and urged law enforcement agencies to apprehend and prosecute offenders in accordance with state laws.

Otu expressed his frustration with the prevailing insecurity, emphasizing that the safety of the state is everyone’s responsibility.

He encouraged citizens to provide information about suspicious individuals in their communities and assured their protection. The governor also pledged rewards for valuable information that leads to the arrest of criminals.

“Let’s take responsibility for the security of our dear state because these people are not foreigners but those around us. We are going to put a fee on whistleblowing. Anybody you suspect in your neighborhood, please pass on the information and you will be protected,” the governor was quoted as saying by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche.

The governor directed security heads to utilize all available resources to swiftly put an end to these criminal acts, secure the release of hostages, and restore the state’s peace and reputation.

Citing the Cross River State Kidnapping Prohibition Law of 2016, Otu outlined stringent penalties for kidnappers, including death by hanging and lengthy imprisonment for attempted kidnappings. He affirmed his commitment to enforcing these laws rigorously to eradicate criminal activities.

Otu conveyed his determination to end the era of insecurity, asserting that the time for change is now. He expressed his willingness to collaborate with various stakeholders to alleviate the impact of economic challenges without resorting to criminal actions.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has expressed concern over the increasing incidents of academic staff from universities, polytechnics, and Colleges of Education (CoE) fleeing once they are sent abroad on scholarships by the agency.

The Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, stated that these cases are embarrassing, prompting the need to revise the foreign scholarship programs. The aim is to strengthen the selection criteria and ensure that beneficiaries do not abscond in the future.

Echono addressed the heads of benefiting institutions in Abuja during a stakeholders’ engagement on emerging issues affecting TETFund’s interventions. He urged participants to collaborate with TETFund in recommending credible scholars for foreign scholarships.

“We are entrusted with the responsibility of rehabilitating the physical infrastructure and other content aspects of the nation’s entire public tertiary institutions. We have successfully sponsored over 37,000 scholars for both foreign and local PhDs, Masters, Bench Work, and Postdoctoral programs in various institutions within and outside Nigeria.”

“Sadly, we are having growing cases of scholars’ abscondment, scholars not returning to serve their bonds at their home institutions upon completion of their programs. In fact, the challenge of scholars absconding has undermined and complicated TETFund’s scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) program, thus bringing it under intense scrutiny.”

Echono explained that the stakeholders’ engagement aimed to address these challenges and find solutions for the effective implementation of scholarship programs. He highlighted the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with prestigious institutions overseas to enhance the TSAS program.

The purpose of the engagement was to encourage open dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders of the Fund to enhance the effectiveness of TETFund’s intervention programs. Echono emphasized that stakeholders’ collective insights, ideas, and feedback are crucial for driving positive changes and accelerating educational sector development.

“As an agency of the government tasked with rebuilding and supporting the nation’s tertiary institutions, we are fully aware of the enormous responsibility and task before us, especially considering the importance of tertiary education in nation-building.”

Echono also addressed the impact of rising inflation on the Fund’s interventions, stating the need to reconsider fixed cost regimes and adapt interventions to inflation rates and project lifecycles. He also emphasized the importance of comprehensive equipment audits to ensure efficient utilization of resources and avoid duplication in subsequent interventions.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has unveiled plans to demolish approximately 500 illegal houses and structures in Dutsen-Garki, Apo District, Abuja.

Mr. Mukhtar Galadima, the Director of the Department of Development Control at FCTA, revealed this decision following a meeting with community leaders in Abuja.

Represented by Mr. Hassan Ogbole, the Deputy Director of Monitoring and Enforcement, Galadima stated that all illegally acquired or constructed houses and structures would be subject to demolition.

He expressed concern over the unauthorized acquisition and development of properties and lands by individuals without obtaining approval from FCTA, deeming this practice unacceptable.

The purpose of the meeting with the locals aligns with FCTA’s reform agenda, focusing on consulting natives prior to any demolition exercise in order to avoid surprising the community.

Galadima emphasized that the meeting aimed to inform community leaders and the public about the forthcoming demolition operation.

In collaboration with the community leaders, FCTA has agreed to mark houses and structures illegally erected by non-indigenous residents within two weeks, followed by the actual demolition.

The Director cautioned residents against seeking land acquisition from locals, urging them to approach the appropriate authorities to prevent property losses.

He further advised against selling lands or expanding properties without obtaining FCTA’s approval.

Mr. Kak Bello, Deputy Director of Monitoring and Enforcement at Abuja Environmental Protection Board, emphasized that not only are illegal structures erected, but buildings are also constructed in waterways.

Building on flood plains and disposing of refuse in waterways contribute to environmental problems experienced in parts of FCT, Bello noted.

He encouraged people to adhere to the law, refrain from illegal construction, and avoid building on flood plains.

Mr. Danjuma Fanus, a community representative, assured full cooperation from the community leaders for the successful execution of the exercise.

However, Fanus appealed to FCTA to approach the exercise considerately to ensure that no natives become victims.

“We are committed to working with the authorities, but we also seek your cooperation,” he emphasized.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu assured investors that his reforms will remove impediments to conducive business operations in Nigeria. 

Tinubu disclosed this in a meeting on Wednesday when he received Mr Ade Adeola, Managing Director of Energy and Natural Resources in Europe, Africa and the Middle East for Standard Chartered Bank. 

He added his reforms would improve efficiency in business start-up and administration including tax reviews and improved security. 

Attracting investments 

President Tinubu noted his administration is  working towards attracting investments, he said: 

• “We are committed to strengthening partnerships, encouraging efficiency and creating a suitable environment for investors. 
• “We are already working hard on security. We will improve efficiency across the board for good input and output and we will build a very friendly environment for growth and investments,’’ he said. 

He also added that tax reforms were being undertaken with close adherence to global best practices that would favour businesses for the collective prosperity of the nation, citing that Nigeria is open for business.  

• “We believe in partnership, and we will work with all those interested in the progress of Nigeria,’’ the president said. 

Adeola said Standard Chartered Bank is committed to enabling investments in Nigeria with a special focus on energy and natural resources and a huge portfolio in funding for the oil and gas industry, he also noted that the bank supports investments of about two to three billion US dollars annually, adding: 

• “We are very excited about your leadership and we want to restate our commitment to the growth of Nigeria,’’. 

New economic Ministers 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday appointed the former Commissioner of Finance in Lagos State, Wale Edun, as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. 

Edun, who was a Presidential Adviser on Monetary Policies, was part of the first batch of the 28-man ministerial list that was sent to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu. 

Wale Edun’s background 

Wale Edun has career experience that spans merchant banking, corporate finance, economics and international finance at national and international levels. He is an economist, with both first and Master’s Degrees in Economics, from the University of London and the University of Sussex, England. 

Edun worked at Chase Merchant Bank as the Head of Treasury and then as Deputy Head of Corporate Finance. These positions put him in charge of the bank’s Treasury and Money Market activities.

He was responsible for the Capital Market and Financial Advisory operations and had to represent several local subsidiaries and affiliates of major multinational companies.