The Kogi Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Femi Osungbohun, has urged outgoing corps members to effectively utilise the acquired skills during the one year mandatory national service.

Osungbohun gave the advice during the Passing-Out-Parade (POP) ceremony for 2023 Batch ‘B’ Stream l Corps members on Thursday in Lokoja.

The POP marks the end of a year-long journey of serving the nation, which is a mandatory requirement for Nigerian graduates.

According to him, a total of 825 deserving corps members of 2023 Batch B Stream l, have successfully completed and met the necessary requirements for the one year national service to their fatherland.

Osungbohun urged the corps members to effectively utilised all the acquired skills under the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Department (SAED), to be self-reliant and employers of labour.

“I am sure with the kind of positive impacts the NYSC has made on you during your service year, don’t just sit back and expect government to do everything for you.

“Opportunities abound everywhere with your education and the various skills you have acquired.

“The hour has come when the advantages of all the NYSC SAED programmes, should live with you, because there is no white collar job anywhere.

“The skills should be able to empower you to be self employed and be employers of labour,” he said.

Osungbohun stressed that the NYSC operatives were always very happy that yet again they had been able to tutor and mentored a very critical segment of the society for nation building.

He added: “The 825 corps members that are leaving service today, we are proud to say that individually and collectively they are going out into the society to make positive impacts”.

Three worthy corps members who distinguished themselves in their various assignments during their service year, received Letters of Commendation from NYSC.

The corps members were: Serah Ogundeji – Oyo; Dr Adeniyi Ayomide – Ondo; and Hamza Babatunde from Ogun State. They all expressed their gratitude to NYSC for the opportunity to serve the nation in that capacity.

The Nigerian Army said the Ugwu Onyeama checkpoint was not responsible for the accident that occurred on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway on Wednesday, June 12.

The military headquarters made this clarification in a statement via its X handle @HQNigerianArmy on Thursday.

Vanguard gathered that four people were reported dead from the accident while 10 others comprising eight male adults and two females sustained different degrees of injuries.

The Army was responding to media reports that claimed its checkpoint was responsible for the accident and the loss of lives, which the Army countered by confirming only two fatalities.

The statement reads, “The attention of Headquarters 82 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to the news circulating in some mainstream and social media platforms attributing the Division’s Checkpoint at Ugwu Onyeama as the cause of an unfortunate and tragic accident that claimed 25 lives on 11 June 2024.

“On receipt of the information from an online journalist that sought clarification about the incident, he was informed one-off that the Division does not have a checkpoint there but rather, it has a Location/Base by the roadside to curb the incessant kidnappings the area was hitherto known for.

“This report is inaccurate and full of falsehoods that are meant to tarnish the appreciable efforts of the troops. It is therefore necessary to set the records straight. First, the Division wishes to condole and commiserate with the families whose loved ones were involved in the tragic incident and also pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.

“The troops only have a base and the barriers used for the checkpoint were removed. Due to the steep gradient of the road, the section has remained problematic since the 1990s before, during, and after the checkpoints were removed.”

The Army also clarified that the accident was caused by an oncoming truck’s brake failure while descending from a slope at the 9th Mile axis ahead of the checkpoint and not at the Army’s checkpoint.

“The accident that occurred yesterday happened about 300m ahead of the soldiers’ base. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident occurred due to a brake failure of a trailer coming downslope from 9th Mile Axis

The Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, has confirmed the killing of no fewer than 30 residents in separate attacks on villages in the Dutsinma and Safana Local Government Areas of the State.

The affected villages included Tashar Kawai Mai Zurfi, Sabon Gari Unguwar Banza, Dogon Ruwa, Sanawar Kurecen Dutsi, Unguwar Bera, Kuricin Kulawa, Larabar Tashar Mangoro, Sabaru, Ashata, Unguwar Ido, Kanbiri, Kunamawar Mai Awaki and Kunamawar ‘Yargandu.

The bandits were said to have killed the victims in a series of separate attacks on the villages on Tuesday.

Aliyu confirmed the incident in response to an inquiry made by our correspondent via a text message on Friday.

According to him, “The Command in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, is intensifying efforts to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act as additional security measures are being put in place to prevent further occurrences of such situation. Further development will be communicated in due course.”

Our correspondent gathered that the attacks had forced residents to flee their villages to neighbouring villages for refuge.

A youth leader in the community who gave his name only as Ibrahim lamented that the residents were tired of the incessant attacks.

He said, “We are tired. The government needs to do something. We cannot keep losing our loved ones like animals.”
Another resident, who did not want to be named, begged the government to come to their aid.
The source said, “We are begging the government to come to our aid.”

Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday tasked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all employers of labour on the need to accelerate the ongoing process for the payment of ‘living wage’ for Nigerian Workers across the country.

The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to further consider the downward review of electricity tariffs, with a view to reducing the suffering of Nigerians.

The resolutions were passed sequel to the adoption of a motion on urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Isa Ali Jesse, titled: ‘Urgent need to consider the imperativeness of fixing a living wage for Nigerian Workers in order to ameliorate current economic hardship’.

In his lead debate, Hon. Isa affirmed that the global economic outlook as well as the recent socio-economic policies of government have resulted in inflation, increase in electricity tariff, currency devaluation and other diverse economic consequences, especially for Nigerian workers.

“The House equally cognizant that government has been locked in negotiations with labour unions towards the upward review of the Minimum Wage for some time, without any agreement, leading to a recent interruption in the negotiations,” he noted.

He disclosed that the National Assembly has in 2019 repealed and enacted N30,000 as the National Minimum Wage Act 2019 even when the Executive arm had suggested N27,000 at the time and also wage award by the former President.

“The House is also aware that in line with Section 3(4) of the Act, the extant minimum wage which commenced on April 18, 2019, has expired after five years on April 18, 2024, thereby calling for a further review of the existing Act.

“The House notes that the implication of payment of N35,000 wage award by the Federal Government to public servants as one of the ways of cushioning the effects of current economic hardship, including the May 1st pronouncement of percentage increases in salaries of civil servants has or the time being, increased the total amount received by civil servants to 77,000 monthly.

“The House also notes that the Labour, Employment and Productivity unions have since demanded a living wage as against the minimum wage to meet today’s economic realities.”

The American Military Veterans of Igbo extraction have demanded the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB).

The group expressed dismay over the continuous incarceration of Kanu, despite being freed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

This comes after a delegation from American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent visited the U.S. State Department on Friday, stating that the Nigerian judiciary has ignored rulings from competent courts, international courts, and United Nations opinions supporting Kanu’s release.

Aloy Ejimakor, the legal adviser to Kanu, said the visit has shown solidarity with the Igbo community and a call to action for the State Department to intervene in Kanu’s case.

The veterans’ advocacy efforts aim to raise awareness about Kanu’s plight and push for his freedom, citing human rights concerns and the need for justice.

The Naira on Friday recorded loss at the official market, trading at N1,483.99 to the dollar.

Data from the official trading platform of the FMDQ Exchange, a platform that oversees the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), revealed that the Naira lost N2.50.

This represents a 0.16 per cent loss when compared to the previous trading date on Thursday, trading at N1,481.49 to the dollar.

However, the volume of currency traded increased to $269.27 million on Friday up from $213.31 million recorded on Thursday.

Meanwhile, at the Investor’s and Exporter’s (I&E) window, the Naira traded between N1,507.00 and N1,399.00 against the dollar.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said on Saturday that President Bola Tinubu has never interfered with his work since he assumed office.

The former Governor of Rivers State stated this during the commissioning of the Guzape Lot II Infrastructure Project in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Wike said, “Since I assumed office on August 21, 2023, you have never one day interfered in my work,” Wike said to the applause of the gathering.

“Never one day have you called me that this is what you want, you have never. Sometimes, I pretend I will come to you and say, ‘Are there people complaining?’ You will tell me, ‘Have I ever called you one day? So don’t bother yourself, go and do your job.’

“I must say I and the Minister of State, we are sincerely happy that you gave us the free hand to work and this is what we are seeing today.”

Wike promised that the FCT Administration was committed to completing the projects in the diplomatic area of Abuja.

He assured the President that the projects would be completed by next year, describing the area as a preferred residential for most Nigerians.

In his remarks, the President commended Wike for delivering on the infrastructure renewal promises of the Federal Government to the people of the FCT.

Eleven suspected illegal miners have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Command, for illegal mining activities in Kwara State.

The Command also impounded eight truckloads of assorted minerals.

The suspects are Ibrahim Gambo, Hakeem Saka, Ahmad Muktar, Sulaiman Ibrahim, Ibrahim Muhammad, Jamiu Mustapha, Rabiu Musa, Aisha Muham, Abdulwasiu Hannafi, Qudus Olalere and Babatunde Hakeem.

They were arrested on Wednesday, May 5, 2024, upon credible intelligence at different locations in Ogbomosho, Oyo State while conveying assorted solid minerals suspected to be marble stone, white powder, lithium, lepidolite to undisclosed destinations without lawful authority.

The suspects will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of ongoing investigations, according to the Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a statement in Ilorin on Friday.

Operatives of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad on Friday arrested a suspected vandal, Mubarak Abdullahi (18), around 10am for removing LED road stud lights on the newly-renovated Third Mainland Bridge.

This was made known in a statement shared on X.com on Friday.

According to the statement, the suspect, a resident of Makoko, had already removed 10 of the lights when he was caught red-handed by the operatives on patrol.

The statement read, “Operatives of Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) around 10am on Friday arrested a suspected vandal removing LED road stud light on the newly renovated Third Mainland Bridge.

“The suspect, Mubarak Abdullahi (18), living in Makoko had, at the time of his arrest, removed 10 of the LED road stud light screwed to the road to enhance the visibility of road users.

“The suspect was caught red-handed by the operatives on patrol of the bridge around 10:00 a.m today.”

The Federal High Court sitting in Kano is set to deliver judgment in the case of deposed former Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, who is alleging the abuse of his fundamental human rights for being removed without his consent and the subsequent move to arrest him by the Kano State Government.

The Court, in relying on Bayero’s motion of protection of fundamental human rights, ordered the eviction of the reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II from Kofar Kudu Palace, after hearing an order to that effect filed by the Counsel to the deposed Bayero, two weeks ago.

When the case resumed hearing, Friday, the Judge, S. A. Amobeda said he would grant an accelerated hearing to the matter, so that judgment would be delivered without wasting everyone’s time.

He said before the court is a notice of preliminary objections coming under order 29 for the Court to take all the orders together, adding that he needs not to be circumvented in the matters.

Justice Amobeda, said, “The Court is known for starting with preliminary objections before taking any other issues. The Court is that of equity and justice, no need for interruptions in the submission of learned Counsels,” he added.

Meanwhile, Justice S. A. Amobeda who gave the exparte order on Tuesday stated that the order is made in the interest of justice and maintenance of peace in Kano State.

The orders were an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents either by themselves, their agents, servants, privies or any other person or authority from inviting, arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing the Applicant, raiding, tempering with or visiting the Applicant’s to arrest or infringe on his right or in any other way infringe or attempt to infringe the Applicant’s rights pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion.

“An order restraining the 3″, 4* and 5th Respondents and all other Respondents from denying the applicant to use his official residence and palace at the Emir’s Palace, Kofar Kudu as well as enjoyment of all rights and privileges accrued to him by virtue of being Emir of Kano State and to evicting anything, anybody residing within the palace illegally pending the hearing and the determination of the originating summons”

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, has urged Nigerians to remain calm despite the current economic challenges.

“Nigerians must remain calm. President Bola Tinubu is working to improve the economy,” Akume said in Abuja on Thursday, while addressing the National Executive Council of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

He said that the current administration took over power when the economy was in a turbulent state, noting, however, that massive reforms were being undertaken.

“One of them, which appears to be a little bit tough for people to understand, is the removal of subsidy on fuel. People should stop shouting; they need to know the actual truth,” Akume stated.

He said that the government had taken several measures to address current hardships, including swift actions in implementing palliatives to cushion the effects of the reforms.

“We are all aware of the N35,000 wage award for workers, which means a N30,000 minimum wage with 35,000 on top of that.

“Additionally, 100 billion naira for CNG fuel buses will help reduce transportation costs and food prices,” he added.
He said that the government also took some measures to support various sectors.

“These include the allocation of N125 billion in conditional grants and financial inclusion for medium and small enterprises and 150 billion naira in palliative loans to states to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal.

“We are providing 200 billion naira to support the cultivation of hectares of land, which is even more now,” Akume said.

He added that there were buses ready to be distributed soon, while rice and other essentials would also be made available.
On the recent industrial strike by labour union leaders, Akume condemned the shutdown of the national grid, describing it as a “treasonable offence.”

He said that there was nowhere in the world where labour ever interrupted the national grid and advised labour against actions that could jeopardise government efforts.

“It is treason! Treasonable felony is economic sabotage; you don’t do that.

“We are trying to rebuild the economy. The nation is picking up, and they want to destroy it. Of what use is that to all of us? That is not the way,” he said.

Akume said that the federal government was not only committed to paying new minimum wage, stressing that it was also focusing on productivity and economic stability.

“Our people must rise up and have something in their pockets. It is not about demanding N100,000 without productivity.

“We are looking at controlling inflation and ensuring a balanced economy,” he asserted.

Akume urged religious institutions to provide essential services.

“The Church must collaborate with the government in providing facilities for people, whether it is in education, health, or agriculture.

“We don’t separate; we combine. There is a symbiotic relationship that can never be destroyed,” he said. (NAN)

The Domestic Airports Cargo Agents Association (DACAA) says Nigeria lost about N7 billion within the two days the organised labour embarked on nationwide industrial strike.

Recall that labour leaders in the country had announced an indefinite strike action over the failure of the federal government to implement the new national minimum wage.

Subsequently, airlines suspended operations indefinitely across the country as a result of the strike action by the Nigerian workers under the directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Monday and Tuesday.

Addressing journalists in Lagos on Friday, chairman, Board of Trustees of the DACAA, Ikpe Nkanang, said the strike action led to huge revenue loses for the country.

Nkanang said that about 30 tonnes of cargo were lifted across the country’s domestic airports daily, noting that the volume of cargoes dumped during the two-day strike could only be imagined.

“For those two days the airlines were not working, and once the airlines are not working, cargo cannot move, and it is a great loss to all of us,” Nkanang said.

“You needed to see the volume of cargoes that were dumped over those two days; of course, you know we gathered cargoes during the weekend, hoping that by Monday and Tuesday we would be able to send them out.

“It was a colossal loss to us in the cargo world, it affected our income and, of course, the economy of the country.
“For those few hours of the strike, the country lost about N7 billion across all local airports,” he added.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal on Friday fined Multichoice Nigeria, the owners of DSTV and GoTv services, the sum of N150 million for disobeying its orders, which restrained the pay-TV company from increasing its monthly subscription pending the determination of the suit brought before it.

The tribunal also ordered the pay-TV company to provide its Nigerian customers with a one-month free subscription to its DStv and GOtv packages.

Recall that the tribunal had previously ordered Multichoice not to increase its subscription fees without proper notice, following a lawsuit filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Festus Onifade, who said the 8-day notice given for the price increase was inadequate.

Onifade then proceeded to file contempt charges against Multichoice after it disobeyed court orders and proceeded with its price hike as announced via email to its customers.

The contempt charges which were filed on May 7 were instituted against the Manager of the Abuja branch of Multi-Choice Nigeria Ltd, Mr Mohammed Sani.

The contempt was hinged on the company’s disobedience to the court order and Onifade, sought an order of the tribunal, directing MultiChoice to pay the sum of N1 billion “or any amount the tribunal deemed fit appropriate in this circumstance for the company’s deliberate actions in disobeying, contravening, and failing to comply with the interim order” granted on April 29.

“Take notice that unless you obey the under-listed order of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, Abuja, given on the 29th day of April 2024, thus: “An order restraining the 1st defendant/respondent either by itself, agents, representatives, officers or privies, howsoever described from carrying out the impending increase in tariffs and cost of its products and services intended to take effect from 1st May 2024, until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed before this tribunal”.

Multichoice, on its part, argued that previous rulings had settled price regulation issues.

Onifade insisted the length of notice was inadequate and more pressing than the price hike itself, prompting the tribunal to affirm its jurisdiction and ruling against Multichoice.

The court fixed July 3 for a hearing of the substantive suit of the plaintiff.

President Bola Tinubu has commended the completion of the Vice President’s official residence.

Tinubu who lamented that the previous administration abandoned the project, said abandoning projects after “substantial expenditures” was wasteful.

The President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made the statement during his address at the inauguration of the completed residence on Thursday, where he noted that the completion of abandoned projects was a cardinal objective of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He stated that the project had faced numerous challenges, noting however that his administration chose rather to complete the project than dwell on the shortcomings of the past

“As we commission this state-of-the-art edifice as the official residence of the Vice President, we are fulfilling a longstanding commitment and reaffirming our unwavering dedication to accountability, transparency, and the efficient utilisation of resources for the betterment of our nation.

“I hold a very strong opinion that abandoning projects after substantial expenditures have been incurred is inherently wasteful, and it is in the best interest of the government and the public to see them through to completion. It is no secret that this project has faced numerous challenges over the years, including delays and abandonment by previous administrations.

“However, rather than dwell on past shortcomings, we have chosen to seize this opportunity to demonstrate our resolve to face challenges head-on and deliver on the promises made to the Nigerian people, in line with our Renewed Hope Agenda, which has the completion of inherited projects as one of its cardinal objectives,” he said.

He further stated that the completion of the project symbolised respect for the office of the President and the individual who occupied the office, adding that the project was also about laying a foundation for more efficient and effective government.

“The provision of a suitable residence for the Vice President is not merely a matter of convenience, it is a symbol of respect for the office and the individual who occupies it. The completion of this project is a testimony of the respect that the President has for the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As we celebrate this achievement today, let us also reflect on the broader significance of our efforts. The completion of the Vice President’s residence is not just about building a physical structure, it is about laying a foundation for a more efficient and effective government. It is also about creating an environment where our leaders can focus on the important work of governance without distraction or inconvenience,” he added.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike disclosed that the project was awarded in 2010 at the cost of N7bn but was abandoned in 2015.

Wike said the project was, however, reviewed in January 2024 for N21bn and was completed to provide the VP with a befitting experiment to carry out his duties.

He threatened not to give contracts from the FCT to Setraco Nigeria Limited anymore, for putting off the streetlights on the recently inaugurated Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way, stating that he would not accept it.

“This morning, I was going around the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way. ES go and tell Setraco that they put off the streetlights that way. Tell them that it is unacceptable to us. If that happens again, they won’t get any job as far as FCT is concerned,” he said.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said it has partnered strategically with the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) to train 30 million Nigerians on digital skills.

The Agency announced this on Friday after a meeting between the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, and NYSC Director-General, Brig Gen Y.D. Ahmed, in Abuja.

According to the NITDA DG, the partnership aligns with the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), aimed at fostering digital literacy and cultivating talent, through the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) Initiative.
The Agency added that the partnership was facilitated by the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who expressed strong support for the collaboration’s success.

Increasing participation in the digital economy, NITDA in a statement announcing the partnership said the training is geared towards empowering more Nigerians to participate in the digital economy and enhance their employability.

“The partnership aims to train 30 million Nigerians, particularly youth, in digital skills, enabling them to access essential digital services, participate in the digital economy, compete for jobs, and enhance their employability.

“This initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to reform the economy and deliver sustained inclusive growth by leveraging digital literacy and cultivating a pool of tech talent,” NITDA stated.

The date of commencement of the training and mode of participation by Nigerians are not disclosed in the statement.

However, NITDA stated that the NYSC DG pledged to establish a Community Development Service (CDS) to support this initiative.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, recently declared that all training programs of the administration are geared towards ensuring that 90% of Nigerians are digitally literate by 2030.

According to him, part of the initiatives is the ongoing 3 Million Technical Skills (3MTT) through which the government plans to train 3 million Nigerians in digital skills over the next three years.

Tijani clarified that being digitally literate does not mean that 90% of Nigerians will become tech talents but they would be given the foundation to be able to choose to participate in the digital economy.

In that regard, NITDA said its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0.) also has digital literacy as number one out of the eight pillars.

NITDA DG noted that the target of fostering digital literacy and cultivating talent will be achieved through the implementation of the National Digital Literacy Framework.

The Federal Government has formally introduced Nigeria’s first scientific-based audience measurement system, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s media landscape.

The launch event, held on Thursday in Abuja, was graced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

Idris hailed the new system as a groundbreaking achievement, stressing that ”it aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for a technologically advanced and prosperous Nigeria.”

He emphasized that the sophisticated audience measurement system would provide reliable data and comprehensive insights into media consumption patterns across various demographics.

“This system will serve as a cornerstone for reliable data, providing accurate and comprehensive insights into media consumption patterns across various demography,” he said.

According to him, the new system replaces the outdated Diary Method (pen and paper) of collecting data on TV viewership and radio listenership, which failed to reflect the true picture of media consumption in Nigeria.

Idris noted that this outdated method had stunted the growth of the entertainment and media ecosystem in Nigeria by not motivating content producers and broadcasters to create better content.
“It is disheartening to note that in spite of having more than three times the eyeballs in South Africa, Nigeria’s television advertising market revenue is low compared to that of South Africa and Kenya.

“It is therefore incumbent on us to reverse the trend and adopt the system that will ensure that the advertising spend in Nigeria grows exponentially in the next couple of years,” he added.
The Federal Government had inaugurated a Ministerial Task Team on Audience Measurement, comprising relevant industry stakeholders.

The National Broadcasting Commission and the Advertising Regulatory Commission of Nigeria also appointed First Media and Entertainment Integrated (Nigeria) Limited, a marketing research company based in Lagos, to deliver scientifically-based audience measurement services.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecasted that Nigeria’s economy will reach $1.85 trillion by 2029 in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

The prediction suggests a significant growth trajectory for Nigeria over the next five years.

According to IMF data, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in PPP terms has shown a steady increase, growing from $1.36 trillion in 2023 to an anticipated $1.85 trillion by 2029.

GDP is widely recognized as the most comprehensive measure of a country’s economic activity, while PPP adjusts for differences in price levels between countries, allowing for more accurate international comparisons.

The data indicates a consistent growth trend, with a notable 5.5 per cent increase expected in 2029.

Additionally, the IMF projects that Nigeria’s share of global GDP based on PPP will reach 0.78 per cent by 2029, up from 0.77 per cent in 2023. This demonstrates a steady, albeit slow, expansion of Nigeria’s economy.

Despite facing significant challenges, including a recession in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and declining oil prices, Nigeria has made efforts to diversify its economy, invest in infrastructure, and attract foreign investment.

The efforts are reflected in the positive economic outlook provided by the IMF.
Economist Shadrach Israel commented on the report, stating, “The IMF reports indicated that the government’s reforms and initiatives have contributed to the country’s economic growth.”

He further noted that the steady growth trend of Nigeria’s GDP in PPP terms over recent years indicates a recovery and ongoing development.

From 2024 to 2028, Nigeria’s GDP in PPP terms is expected to grow as follows:
$1.44 trillion in 2024; $1.51 trillion in 2025; $1.587 trillion in 2026
$1.67 trillion in 2027; $1.759 trillion in 2028.

“The IMF’s prediction of Nigeria’s economic growth is a positive sign for the country’s future, indicating a potential for increased economic prosperity and development,” Israel concluded.

Recall that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently recommended to the Federal Government of Nigeria the complete phase-out of electricity subsidies in the country, aligning with its earlier call for the removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023.

The advice comes in the wake of economic challenges faced by Nigerians since the elimination of fuel subsidies.
In its ‘Post Financing Assessment (PFA)’ report, the IMF acknowledged the hardship experienced by Nigerians and suggested that the government’s move to restore macroeconomic stability should include the removal of both fuel and electricity subsidies.

The Senate, on Thursday, passed a bill seeking to prohibit Nigerian athletes from consuming performance-enhancing substances during or after sporting competitions.

President Bola Tinubu had sent a request to the Senate to enact in May through a letter read on the floor by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary.

He urged the Senate to review and approve a bill aimed at prohibiting athletes from using substances that enhance their performance.

Tinubu had stated that the bill would establish a legal framework for the formation of the National Anti-Doping Organisation.

The bill was titled “National Anti-Doping Bill 2024.”

According to the President, the Bill was meant to domesticate and enforce in Nigeria, the international convention against doping in sports ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in France.

The passage of the bill followed the consideration and approval of the report of the Senate committee on judiciary, human rights, and legal matters during plenary.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Mohammed Monguno, presented the report.

Senators adopted the recommendations of the committee and approved that the Bill be read for a third time when it was put to a voice vote by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary.