Rep. Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, highlighted that the South-Eastern region is facing a substantial economic downturn and notable disruptions in business operations due to the enforced “sit-at-home” directive by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.

This concern was expressed during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) executives in Abuja, headed by Abdulrashid Yerima, the president of the group.

Mr. Kalu pointed out that the South-East geopolitical zone suffers significant financial losses, ranging from N10 billion to N13 billion, particularly in the transportation sector, with each weekly “sit-at-home” day.

“When they sit at home in the South-East, the South-West, South-South, North-West, North-East, and North-Central are not sitting at home,’’ Mr Kalu said.

He also observed that the whole country suffers when SMEs in the South-East suffer, saying, “Prices of goods and services will suffer if there is insecurity in the land.”

Mr Kalu promised a legislative commitment to address concerns raised earlier by the visitors.

“We must examine existing laws that are not SMEs-friendly. That way, we can address some of the economic challenges facing the country via SMEs,’’ he said.

Mr Kalu promised to work with NASMEs for growth, adding that the 10th National Assembly would support its course with positive legislation.

He said recent data indicated that SMEs accounted for 48 per cent of national GDPs in emerging economies, just as the World Bank had declared that SMEs played a pivotal role in job creation.

Earlier, the NASME president appealed to Mr Kalu to facilitate laws supporting the growth of SMEs in Nigeria.

The Federal Government on Saturday said that the World Bank will soon release the $1.5bn concessionary loan to support budget funding soon.

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun confirmed the development during a press briefing on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Recall that in 2020, the World Bank also approved a $1.5bn credit facility for Nigeria to enable it bridge budget funding gap for the pandemic year when the country faced sharp fall in oil prices and the economy jumped into a difficult recession.

Speaking on the new loan, Edun confirmed ongoing talks with the World Bank for the loan and added that the money will likely be released soon.

Edun who said the loan request will possibly be discussed as the Federal Executive Council meets on Monday, added that it will come with a near zero interest rate, dousing concerns around rising debt service obligations.

He said, “Talks with the World Bank on $1.5 billion budget support, is correct. The World Bank is the number one multilateral development bank for helping developing countries fund own projects and programs. It has free money through International Development Association (IDA).

“It has this for the poorer countries and right now I think we qualify as one of the countries that are almost in the normal window of the World Bank funding but also some concessionary IDA funding.

“That means that effectively, the interest rate will be zero. Therefore, there is no stigma at all attached with qualifying for a World Bank funding to help finance development.

“In this particular case, its long been in the pipeline, and we are hoping that that funding will come through soon. A lot of hard work is being done. There’s a Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday that should be able to discuss this as well as other initiatives for financing of reasonable term.

“We’ve talked about the high costs of money, but the World bank money is the cheapest.”

On the priority of government, he said the key focus remains providing a better life for all Nigerians.

The Minister added, “The various discussions we have had with institutions such as the International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMF), the International Finance Corporation, the Islamic Development Bank and the British Government, to name a few, show that domestic revenue mobilization is a critical component of Nigeria’s long-term path to sustainable development finance.

“The Nigerian economy is not immune to these global headwinds and the overall geopolitical fragmentations. Fiscal consolidation remains the preferred policy option for many countries, so that buffers can be built after long years of stimulus.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says one of its major concern in the conduct of the Nov.11 Kogi governorship election is the prevailing security challenge in the state.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman, INEC, said this when he visited the Kogi Local Government (LGA) office of the commission, in Kotonkarfe during a visit to the state to monitor mock accreditation in Lokoja on Saturday.

Yakubu said that the commission was working with the security agencies to provide secured environment for peaceful and credible election.

“Wherever you go in Nigeria, you are sure to see two government offices. One is INEC. You will see an INEC office in the LGA headed by an electoral officer, an Electoral Officer (EO). You will also see the police office headed by a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for the local government.

“So, we are everywhere working together. And I’m happy that we are working together as we prepare for the elections,“ he said.

Yakubu advised the Electoral Officers (EOs) in the state to follow the standard template for logistics deployment at Registration Area Centres (RACs), as well as work with security agencies, for the election to commence in Polling Units (Pus)at 8.30a.m.

“My advice to you is that you have to use the standard template for this election.

“I am glad to hear that all the non-sensitive materials have been received in your local government. And I’m sure it’s the same story in other local governments as well.

“But it’s not only the receipt of the material that is important. You have to batch them so that they go into the box per polling unit.

“So, on election day, as you move to the super RACs or the RAC centers, you will then move to the polling units,” he said.

Yakubu added: “We are giving our words to Nigerians that we must open polling units at 8.30 am on the dot. Therefore, you must activate the RACs. If you don’t activate the RACs we can’t actulise the commencement of the votes at 8.30 am.

“You must activate the RACs with security and I am happy that you are working in partnership with them.”

He commended all the INEC staff and security agencies in the state.

Earlier speaking, Mr Hassan Musa, the Electoral Officer, Kogi Local Government Area (LGA) office, Kotonkarfe, said that the preparations for the election was in advance stage.

Musa said that the LG office had already received all the non-sensitive materials for the election and was working with security agencies for a peaceful election.

He said that in the next few weeks the commission would round the RACs centres in the LG to monitor the preparations.

“We have received virtually all the non-sensitive materials for the election and we have successful dispatched them to PUs level and we are good to go. We don’t have any shortfall for now.

“What we are waiting for is sensitive materials. As you know sensitive materials come few days close to the election . More so we are having cordial relationship security agencies and they are doing their best to address places that have security challenges.

“We have received virtually all the non-sensitive materials and we have successfully dispatched them to PU levels. And we are good to go, sir. We don’t have any shortfall for now.

“What we are waiting for is the sensitive materials, which normally come a few days before the elections,” he said

He added: “Also, we are having a very cordial relationship with the security personnel. We are meeting with them, as you can see. We even hold a brief meeting with them every day and they are doing their best to crop down places that have security challenges.

“We have also met with transportation unions, waiting to sign MoU with them. ”

Yakubu used the opportunity to plant a tree in the premises of the INEC office for peace election, before proceeding to visit some PUs where mock accreditation was held in Lokoja.

[Newsguru]

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT) has called for the immediate resignation of Senator Samuel Anyawu as the National Secretary of the party.

ThisNigeria reports that Anyawu is the PDP flagbearer of the 2024 Imo gubernatorial election.

In a letter addressed to the acting National Chairman of the Party, Iliya Damagun and signed by the acting Chairman of the BOT, Adolphus Wabara, the board stated that it was unconstitutional for Anyawu to remain the party’s secretary while in the Imo governorship race.

The BOT then called on the PDP NWC to ensure that Anyawu steps down from his position immediately.

ThisNigeria reports that the NWC had stated that Anyawu remained the Secretary of the party, despite calls for his removal.

A statement issued by the committee read “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a statement by a group mischievously purporting that the NWC has relieved our Candidate in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State, Senator Samuel Anyanwu of his elected position as the National Secretary of our great Party.

“The NWC states in very clear terms that the claim by the group is completely false as the NWC did not at any time relieve or contemplate to relieve the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu of his position.

“The NWC therefore strongly condemns the action of this group which is obviously the handiwork of those who intend to embarrass, cause disaffection and division in our party in their attempt to distract the PDP, our Candidate, Senator Anyanwu and the people of Imo State in the quest to rescue the State from the stranglehold of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The NWC states and cautions that no matter how strongly an individual or group feels about an issue, resorting to fabrications, lies and claiming of a non-existent decision by the NWC is highly condemnable.”

“The PDP urges Nigerians, particularly our teeming members and supporters in Imo State to disregard the said false claims as Senator Anyanwu remains the National Secretary and Candidate of our Party in the November 11, 2023 Governorship election in Imo State.

“The NWC charges the PDP in Imo State to remain united, focused, at alert and continue to resist the antics of suprressive forces which are bent at distracting our Party in the march to victory on November 11, 2023.”

[ThisNigeria]

The Ondo State House of Assembly on Saturday distanced itself from reports that it has suspended the impeachment process of the state Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The House in its reaction vowed to carry on with the impeachment in order to determine the veracity or otherwise of the monumental allegations of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor.

The lawyer of the House, Femi Emodamori revealed this stand in a statement released on Saturday.

The statement reads, “Our Client, the Ondo State House of Assembly, has brought some distorted news story stating that it had “suspended” the impeachment of the State Deputy Governor, to our attention.

“The House reaffirmed that it has not “suspended” the impeachment process as inaccurately reported, and will carry same through to a logical conclusion in order to determine the veracity or otherwise of the monumental allegations of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor.

“Impeachment is a constitutional process clearly outlined in section 188 (1)-(11) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and our Client has meticulously complied with all the stages leading up to the obligation placed on the State Chief Judge to set up a 7-man Panel to investigate the allegations, as stipulated in Section 188(5) of the Constitution.

“The notice of allegations of gross misconduct was signed by 11 members of the House and presented to its Speaker on 20th September, 2023 in strict compliance with Section 188(2) of the Constitution, which requires at least one-third of the 26 House members to sign and present the notice to the Speaker. That is the first stage in an impeachment process.

“The Speaker, in turn, served the notice on the Deputy Governor on 25th September, 2023, and also caused same to be served on all the other members of the House, in strict compliance with the same Section 188(2) of the Constitution which requires him to do so within seven days. That was the second stage.

“The third stage, as stated in Section 188(3) of the Constitution, requires a two-thirds majority of the members to pass a motion within 14 days after the notice of allegation(s) of gross misconduct was first presented to the Speaker, for the investigation of the allegation (s) and request the State Chief Judge to set up the 7-man Panel to investigate same.

“Our Client meticulously complied with the said Section 188(3) of the Constitution. In fact, 23 out of its 26 members (more than the minimum two-thirds majority required) passed that motion on 3rd October, 2023.
Section 188(5) of the Constitution further states that after the motion is passed by the two-thirds majority, the Speaker should formally request the State Chief Judge to set up the Seven-man Panel.

“The Speaker diligently complied with this on the same 3rd October when the motion was passed.

“It was at this stage that His Lordship, the Honourable Chief Judge of Ondo State, replied the House, stating that he received an ex parte Order which the Deputy-Governor secured from the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court on 26th September 2023, ‘restraining’ his lordship from setting up the Panel, pending when the Court would hear all the parties in the case to determine the merit of the application or the case filed by the Deputy-Governor.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 188(10) of the Constitution clearly states that “The proceedings or determination of the House or Panel or any matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall not be questioned or entertained in any court”, and there are too many judgments of the highest courts in Nigeria affirming that no court has the jurisdiction to dabble into an impeachment process, as long as the House of Assembly complies with all the constitutional process.

“The Honourable Chief Judge himself stated in his widely reported reply to my Client, that his lordship was not unmindful of the above provisions of Section 188(10) of the Constitution and even quoted it verbatim.
His lordship however stated that as a Chief Judge, he would prefer that the ex parte Order, which his lordship believes “tied his hand”, should first be vacated or set aside. The Chief Judge obviously prefers to err on the side of caution.

“The position of our Client, therefore, and contrary to the inaccurate press report, is that in spite of their reservations about the position of the Honourable Chief Judge in the face of the clear provisions of Section 188(10) of the Constitution and the judgments of the appellate courts stating that no court has the power to question or entertain any matter relating to the impeachment, they would, for now, show sufficient understanding of the delicate position the Hon. Chief Judge has found himself, by promptly taking the necessary legal steps to vacate or quash the order and/or the entire suit at the Federal High Court, in order to untie the hands of his lordship and proceed with the impeachment to a logical conclusion.

“The general public would recall that a similar suit instituted by the same Deputy Governor on the same subject matter at the Ondo State High Court was dismissed on 10th October, 2023 for constituting an abuse of Court process, following a preliminary objection which we filed on behalf of our Client.”

[NaijaNews]

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has urged Biafra agitators to uphold a 40-day ceasefire.

Ohanaeze said the ceasefire is aimed at securing the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The Factional Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the ceasefire should start from October 31.

In a statement he signed, Isiguzoro said there are ongoing talks behind the scenes on the possibility of Kanu’s release.

According to Isiguzoro: “To facilitate progress in this matter, Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges Biafra agitators to uphold a ceasefire for a period of 40 days, refraining from any offensive aggression starting from October 31, 2023.

“Maintaining discipline among the Biafra agitators is crucial to ensuring the cessation of all offensive acts for the designated 40-day period.

“By doing so, the ongoing conversations behind the scenes will have the necessary environment to provide the desired solutions for the release of Nnamdi Kanu. Ohanaeze Ndigbo reminds Ndigbo of our Igbo idiom, “Every soup has a peculiar way of licking it,” emphasising the importance of engaging with relevant authorities through diplomatic channels as the most effective means of achieving the desired results.

“We implore Ndigbo to exercise patience during this challenging time. We acknowledge the pain and hardships endured by the people of the Southeast since the incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu.

“As custodians of our land, we assure ourselves and our people that positive outcomes are anticipated following the November 2023 Imo State Governorship elections. The release of Nnamdi Kanu will be a surprise package for the Southeast.”

The body also appealed to Nigerians Kanu might have offended to extend forgiveness and allow the greater interests of Nigeria to prevail.

“The restoration of peace and security in the Southeast is of utmost importance and requires the collective involvement of all stakeholders.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo remains committed to working behind the scenes, galvanising all relevant parties to achieve this essential objective,” he added.

[DailyPost]

The World Bank has appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun as the Chairman of the African Governors’ Forum.

According to a statement on the Ministry of Finance’s X page, the ministry noted that Edun’s appointment makes it the first of such for Nigeria.

The statement reads, “The appointment presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria and implementation of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“WORLD BANK APPOINTMENT.

“Nigeria’s Minister @FinMinNigeria & Coordinating Minister of the Economy Mr. Wale Edun has been appointed to Chair the African Governors’ Forum of the World Bank. 

“This marks the first time Nigeria has assumed the role of Chairman in 60 years.”

The African Governors’ Forum is a platform for African finance ministers and central bank governors to engage with the World Bank on issues of mutual interest.

[Vanguard]

President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sadness over the passing of a former minister and chieftain of the All Progressives' Congress (APC), Senator Bello Maitama Yusuf.

The President extends his deepest sympathy and condolences to Senator Yusuf’s family and friends, as well as the government and people of Jigawa State.

"A true believer in Nigeria’s unity and stability, Senator Maitama Yusuf contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of this country. In the public service, he was selfless. He was dedicated to effective service delivery in order to improve the lives of Nigerians. He served Nigeria meritoriously as the Honourable Minister in the Federal Ministries of Interior and Commerce, before being elected into the Nigerian Senate by his people.

"Senator Yusuf was widely regarded as an advocate for good governance, transparency, and youth empowerment during his time in the Senate. Later in life, he was engaged in business, and he made success out of it.

"Nigerians will fondly remember and honour his memory, particularly for the courageous and pivotal role he played in countering attempts by anti-democratic forces to undermine the country’s democracy by seeking to extend the constitutional term limits of elected leaders," the President affirmed.

President Tinubu prayed that Almighty Allah grant the soul of Sardaunan Dutse eternal rest and give succour to all those who grieve over this irreplaceable loss.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

As part of efforts to prioritize effective and efficient working synergy between the Presidency and Federal Ministries, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointments of professionals who have prior working experience within the architecture of the Federal Ministries they will be coordinating with, in addition to duties that will be carried out at the President's discretion:

Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy — Mr. Bayo Onanuga

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation — Ms. Delu Bulus Yakubu

The President wishes the new presidential aides well in the discharge of their duties.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his solidarity with Palestine amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

In a video posted on his official X account, President Ramaphosa offered condolences to both the people of Israel and Palestine. He voiced his deep concern about the unfolding atrocities in the Middle East and emphasized his support for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

Ramaphosa’s stance reflects the growing international attention on the conflict, with prominent politicians expressing their support for the Palestinians in the wake of the recent attacks by Hamas in Israel. The conflict has escalated into total military warfare in the Gaza Strip, resulting in significant casualties on both sides, as reported by humanitarian organizations.

Ramaphosa’s message underscores South Africa’s solidarity with Palestine during this challenging period in the region.

Watch the video below: