Author: Anule Emmanuel

Benue State government plans to hand a 25‑year concession over tens of thousands of hectares to a private developer in a deal that will create an integrated agro‑industrial hub and cement the state’s status as a national food-production center. The Benue State Executive Council on September 2 approved the National Food City Complex (NFCC), a public‑private partnership between the state and Rexzodeneh Group Ltd. (RGL). In a statement by the Commissioner of Information and Orientation Solomon Iorpev said the State is contributing roughly 30,000 hectares of land across Otukpo, Obi and Ado local government areas as its equity stake in…

Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves have climbed to $54.08bn, the highest level in nearly 18 years, highlighting a sustained build-up of external buffers and strengthening the Central Bank’s capacity to manage the currency. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) latest data show reserves rose to $54.08bn on September 3, up from $53.99bn a day earlier and $53.90bn on September 1. The latest level is the largest since December 22, 2008, when reserves were about $54.21billion. Since mid‑August the stockpile has increased by roughly $1.42bn from $52.66bn on August 19, and by $8.52bn year‑to‑date from $45.56bn on January 2 — an 18.7 per…

The Benue State government on Saturday announced a major drainage construction plan intended to halt recurring floods that have inundated neighborhoods in parts of the state capital. The state’s Agro-Climatic Watershed Management Agency said crews will soon begin building a 20‑meter‑wide main channel to carry stormwater from Welfare Quarters through Achusah, past the Mopol barracks and down to the Industrial Layout, where it will discharge into the Benue River. A statement by the Commissioner of Information and Orientation Solomon Iorpev on said a network of smaller feeder drains will tie surrounding streets and low‑lying neighborhoods into the primary channel. “The…

The Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has formally opened a reconstructed stretch of the Nassarawa–Flour Mills Road, a key urban artery that links Kaduna South and Chikun local government areas and provides a direct route between industrial zones, markets and public institutions across the city. Governor Sani on his official Facebook page said he presided over the commissioning of the corridor, which runs from the Zenith Bank roundabout on Old Kachia Road through the Makera and Kakuri districts to the Western Bypass. According to him, the project, stalled at roughly 15 percent completion when his administration took office, has now…

At a centenary event for the Daily Times Newspaper on Thursday, a former chief of staff to ex-Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom urged a new generation of news outlets to study the century-old paper’s emphasis on consistency and credibility. Honourable Terwase Orbunde, speaking at the celebration themed “Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future,” said the newspaper’s survival through 100 years of political and media change highlights the value of steady, truthful reporting. “Daily Times is a household name. For the past 100 years, they have covered space in this country and performed so well,” Orbunde said. He recalled seeing his…

By Fredrick Nwabufo Suleiman sits in the examination hall. His palms are sweaty, and beads of despair are dropping on his lap. He has not paid his fees and is scraping by on odd jobs. It is the crucial second-semester examination. Suleiman faces a major challenge to his dream of getting a higher education: funding. But his determination is greater than his fear. In his 200 level in 2024, word came to him about the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND); he did not hesitate; he put his foot on the pedal, applied and got funding for tuition and upkeep. Today,…

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is pressing a case to reposition Nigeria as the backbone of the country’s emerging digital economy. NIMC is convening a high-level forum on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to showcase new legislation and a national roadmap aimed at widening access to services and cross-border commerce. The agency, charged with issuing and managing identity credentials, will host the event on September 22, bringing together government officials, development partners, technology companies and civil-society representatives. NewsQuest reports that gathering, supported by the World Bank’s ID4D project, comes as Nigeria prepares to implement the…

The Federal Government and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have signed a Joint Work Programme to deepen strategic cooperation on energy data, policy and investment across the value chain, aimed at accelerating economic growth and strengthening energy security. Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, speaking at the signing ceremony on Thursday, described the country’s formal admission into the IEA as an important milestone and a validation of President Bola Tinubu’s economic and energy reforms. In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said the partnership will help Nigeria harness its abundant energy resources for…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged friends, supporters and well-wishers to forego gifts and lavish celebrations as he marks his 60th birthday, asking them instead to direct resources to charities and people in need. Shettima posted the appeal on Facebook Tuesday night ahead of his birthday on Wednesday, saying he has for years asked those close to him not to spend money on presents or high‑profile tributes. The Vice President said he felt even more strongly about the request as he reached the milestone age. “Sixty is an age at which our people expect a man to have exchanged impulse…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has declared that he would likely be the first target if President Bola Tinubu loses the 2027 election to either former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or Labour-backed candidate Peter Obi. Speaking in a media interview, Minister Wike—an unlikely ally and supporter of President Tinubu despite his long affiliation with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said he understands the risks of his public support for the incumbent. “I will be the first politician that I think they will come after. I will be the first politician. I know they will come…