Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared the sum of N1,088.783 trillion naira to the three tiers of government as Federation Allocation for the month of November. The amount was derived from a gross total of N1.62 trillion naira. The breakdown of the allocation shows that the Federal Government received N402.867 billion, the States received N351.697 billion, the Local Government Councils received N258.810 billion, and the Oil Producing States received N75.410 billion as Derivation. The communique issued by FAAC at the end of it’s meeting revealed that the Gross Revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) increased to…

The Management of the Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA), in Katsina State, says the remaining four abducted female students of the University have regained their freedom. The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University, Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu-Bichi, confirmed this to newsmen in Katsina on Friday, indicating that the freed female students were part of the five abducted by suspected bandits. They were abducted on October 3 from their rented apartment, behind Mariyamu Ajiri memorial school in Dutsinma. Hamisu-Bichi disclosed that the freed female students would undergo medical check-ups before they were handed over to their families. The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that on…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has appealed to the National Assembly to approve the N17bn appropriated for the FCT Administration in the 2024 national budget. Wike made the appeal on Friday when he appeared before the lawmakers to defend the FCT budget. The former Rivers State Governor explained to a joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on FCT that the figures are meant to complete abandoned projects and sustain the implementation of critical projects in the FCT. Giving a breakdown of the budget figures, Wike explained to the lawmakers that N5bn was allocated as…

World football governing body, FIFA, has approved a total of 30 Nigerian referees to be placed on the international duty lists for the year 2024. These comprised 11 referees, 11 assistant referees, four beach soccer referees, and four futsal referees. This is contained in a statement by Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Thursday in Abuja. He said the referees included: Basheer Salisu Ogabor Odey Joseph Olufunmilayo Abigael Alaba Nurudeen Abubakar Abdulsalam Kasimu Abiola Elaigwe Hannah Enekole Akintoye Yemisi Eunice Egba Patrick John Madu Ndidi Patience Mustapha Grema Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar. “The 11 persons…

INEC has rejected the budget of N40 billion allocated to it, describing the sum as grossly inadequate to fund the affairs of the electoral body. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu presented its own draft proposal of N89 billion to the Senate Committee on INEC during the budget defence meeting chaired by Alli Sharafadeen Abiodun, yesterday. At the meeting held at the new senate building, Yakubu explained that N40 billion would not be enough to cater for the financial needs of the commission in 2024. He said N40 billion could only cover the personal cost of the commission, which has a workforce of…

Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen, disclosed that investment worth $13.5 billion was expected in the country’s energy sector within the next 12 months. She said her engagements with the stakeholders had shown that there were massive investment opportunities for the sector estimated at $55.2 billion opportunities by 2030. Verheijen said the administration of Tinubu, in line with its “Renewed Hope Agenda”, remained committed to improving the business and investment climate in the country, including the energy sector. As she had expressed at other stakeholder engagements in the sector, Verheijen said the president was fully committed…

As part of efforts to further cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on the citizenry, the Lagos State Government has set aside the sum of N50 billion for social protection. Commissioner for Economy, Budget and Planning, Mr. Ope George revealed this today during an interview on TVC’s ‘Business Nigeria’. While speaking on the State’s 2024 Budget proposal, christened: “Budget of Renewal”, the Commissioner stated that the sum of N50 billion was proposed for social protection to ensure that the citizens are protected from surging inflationary trends. According to him, the Budget also has provisions for human capital development and…

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino says France striker Christopher Nkunku will be involved in the squad to face Sheffield United on Saturday. Nkunku joined the Blues for £52m from RB Leipzig in the summer but suffered a left knee injury during a pre-season friendly in Chicago. The 26-year-old had surgery in August and has yet to make a Premier League appearance for his new club. Pochettino said Nkunku can now begin to get a “feel” for the English game. He added: “It’s a big motivation for us, for his team-mates, and the fans to see a player that should be important for us being…

Brentford and Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo will miss the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after undergoing surgery on his injured ankle. The 24-year-old will be out for around 12 weeks, said Bees boss Thomas Frank. Mbeumo, Brentford’s top Premier League scorer with seven goals this season, suffered the injury in their 2-1 defeat at Brighton on 6 December. Afcon begins on 13 January in Ivory Coast with Cameroon starting their campaign against Guinea two days later. “Bryan is a positive guy, he will come back stronger,” added Frank. “He has a very good mindset.” Mbeumo has scored three times in 14 caps for Cameroon and started all…

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, has appealed to medical doctors and other health workers to stay back and join in salvaging the country. Kana’s appeal is contained in a statement issued by Mr Henshaw Ogubike, the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, in Abuja on Friday. Ogubike stated that the permanent secretary made the appeal during the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) National Executive Council Meeting in Abuja. He quoted Kana as saying that the call was necessary as the Federal Government was also doing its best to reposition the…

The Federal Government has said it plans to establish a National Museum and a National Theatre in a creative city to be located in Abuja. The Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, disclosed this when she presented the 2024 Appropriation Budget draft to the Senate Committee on Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy. She stated that the establishment of the two edifices were top on the list of projects of the ministry, which is intended to create employment, not only for creatives but also for Nigerians in general. The attainment of this objective, she noted,…

The Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, James Iorpuu, has said that there are 14 Internally Displaced Persons camps in the state. Iorpuu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Friday that the number would increase to 17 when three new camps are inaugurated in January 2024. He said that the IDPs camps are located in Makurdi, Guma, Gwer West, Logo and Agatu Local Government Areas. He stated, “Before we came into office, we had six IDPs camps in Benue but, as we speak, we have 14 camps. These are not new camps; they were existing,…