Author: Joy Gyakyor

The Conference of Benue Journalists (CBJ), on Tuesday congratulated Governor Hyacinth Alia on his affirmation by the Supreme Court as the duly elected governor of Benue State in the March 2023 Governorship Election. CBJ in a statement by its President, Anule Emmanuel, PhD, said the verdict by the nation’s apex Court brought to an end the long legal tussle between the two main political parties in the State, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The group however said the verdict had placed irrevocable legitimacy on the Alia led-administration to begin to deliver on good governance…

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday felicitated the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, as he marks his birthday January 8. The President in a statement by his Special Adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale commended the diligence, passion, and expertise the foremost geologist brings to tasks as one of the longest-tenured chief executives in the history of Africa’s most valuable energy company. Tinubu said, “Mele is a man of action, rather than words. He is proactive in his approach. His ability to diagnose complicated problems with thoughtful and pragmatic solutions…

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday celebrated the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, as he marks his birthday on January 8. The President in a statement by his Special Adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri, extolled the fine defining qualities of the young first-class graduate of accounting who steadily rose through the ranks in public service by dint of hard work, loyalty, and competence, noting his service as the Commissioner of Finance in Oyo State at the age of 33; the CEO of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC); Special Adviser to the President…

Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, has ordered the suspension of the delegate primary election for the Guma 1 State Constituency, citing security concerns in the area. Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Tersoo Kula in a statement said the security of the state remains paramount. According to Kula, governor Alia while speaking in Makurdi said for a local government area that is already volatile, he will not allow the continuation of the exercise, as it could trigger more violence in the local government area and across the state. “The security of the state remain paramount to all of…

The Nigeria Economic Zones Association (NEZ Assocaition) has again reiterated that the Free Trade Zone Scheme remains one of Nigeria’s best adopted economic development tool for wealth creation and national growth, urging the Federal Government to guard it jealously. The remark was contained in a position paper made available to newsmen by the Executive-Secretary of the association, Chief Toyin Elegbede on Friday, in Abuja.  The paper, titled: “ Free Zone Scheme as an Economic Development tool for Nigeria,’’ commenced the Association’s 2024 maiden intellectual activity to bridge the existing knowledge gap of the concept and its demonstrable propensity to fast-track…

The Federal Government has assured that it will rely less on borrowing to fund the 2024 budget, but would do more on revenue generation. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun said stated this said the government is desirous of restoring order to borrowing with a view to eliminating ways and means of demand credit facility. Edun stated this while reacting to the signing of the 2024 budget by President Bola Tinubu. The Finance Minister explained that the 2024 budget is a lower budget deficit, requiring lower financing requirements. He said, “as a percentage of GDP,…

President Bola Tinubu Monday signed the 2024 Appropriation Bill into law in keeping with his avowed commitment to maintaining a timeous, predictable, and efficient budget cycle. Special Adviser on media and publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale in a statement said that Tinubu assented to the bill at the Presidential Villa, shortly after returning to Abuja from Lagos. Speaking at the signing of the bill, the President assured Nigerians that the implementation of the budget would be efficiently pursued and vigorously monitored, adding: “All the institutional mechanisms shall be held to account in ensuring diligent implementation”. “All MDA’s have been…

By Martins Odeh Ph.D. There appear to be deep seated and conclusive negative opinions about the modus operandi of the Free Trade Zone Scheme among individuals in and out of government in Nigeria. First, we have to understand that this global economic system is primarily aimed at encouraging economies of scale through seamless production and manufacturing for export and for local markets. It also aims at supporting backward linkages; industrialization; infrastructure development; employment generation; foreign exchange earnings, revenue generation among others. For the umpteenth time, free trade zone remains a global economic matrix with distinct framework which gives this business…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has released a weather forecast for Sunday (today), projecting the prevalence of slight dust haze in northern Nigeria. NiMet’s weather outlook released today on former Twitter, now (X), predicted the prevalence of slight dust haze across northern parts of the country, with improvements in horizontal visibility. The report said, “Dust Haze is still the prevailing weather across the country although we expect gradual improvements in horizontal visibilities as slight dust haze is expected over the northern region of the country throughout Sunday.” NiMET explained that dust haze continues to impact visibility, with gradual improvements expected in certain…

Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan on Sunday, Christmas Eve, at the Church of the Assumption Asokoro, delivered a homily on the importance of waiting patiently on God’s promise. He seized the opportunity to further puncture the fake news about the Catholic church’s position on same sex marriage – follwing Pope Francis’ latest statement, which is mischievously being misrepresented in some sections of the media. Newsquest brings the excerpts:  Homily The message that I give to you, it is true that I prepare them. I prepare my homilies the day before, and obviously, I apply those homilies first to myself, and…