Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has met with the President of Africa Export Import (Afrexim) Bank, Prof Benedict Oramah in Cairo, Egypt where the duo discussed in details the investment potentials of Imo State.

During his inauguration for a second term in office early this year, Governor Uzodimma assured that he would intensify efforts at exploring avenues that would make the abundant human and natural resources in Imo State exploitable.

The Governor is passionate about turning the huge arable land, gas deposits and other abundant natural resources in Imo State into sources of revenue generation for the State and employment opportunities for the  unemployed youth demography.

At the Cairo meeting with Oramah during the week, Governor Uzodimma and his host explored, among other things, the huge investment potentials that is Imo State for a win win situation.

An excited Governor Uzodimma is not only confident that the meeting was fruitful and will yield the desired results, he also expressed joy that Imo State would be better off based on the matters under discussion with Oramah.

Taking to his social media platform on Friday, Governor Uzodimma said: “I am delighted to share an exciting development as I seized an opportunity in Cairo to meet with our esteemed brother, Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah, President of Afrexim Bank.

“We explored potential partnership terms aimed at catalyzing investments in our State’s economy and I am thrilled to announce that our efforts have borne fruit, as we have made significant strides in advancing discussions for potential investments totaling up to USD 1.5 billion.

“This collaboration holds immense promise for the prosperity and growth of our beloved State as we continue to work diligently towards realizing our shared vision of a thriving and vibrant economy.”

During Governor Uzodimma’s first term, he attracted a lot of funds from development partners, taking advantage of his private sector background and desire to turn the economic fortunes of Imo State around.

As an avid advocate of government of inclusiveness and shared prosperity, Governor Uzodimma believes that government’s recourse to Public Private Partnership (PPP) will quicken the pace of economic recovery of Imo State with the concomitant growth and development effects across sectors.

The Abia State Patent Medicine Dealers Association, Ekumi Plaza Aba, has thrown its weight behind the State Government’s plan to remodel and reconstruct major markets in the State to align with global best standards.

This is even as it has called on Governor Alex Otti,to enure the fulfillment of  his electioneering campaign promise of resettling the over 20 thousand traders who lost their shops and business premises to the Ariaria International Market reconstruction efforts of the immediate past administration in the state .

The umbrella body of the arguably single largest traders body in Abia Markets, with an estimated membership strength of ten thousand, spoke through its out-gone Chairman, Chief Chukwuka Okorie, on Thursday, March 14, during the election of a new Executive Body to pilot its affairs.

Chief Okorie said the planned market reconstruction by the State Government, if diligently executed, will lift the status of the markets and mitigate the high rate of fire incidents and flooding that have continued to dog most of the markets ,particularly in Aba .

“The State Government’s decision to remodel and  reconstruct some of  the major markets is a welcome development. We, the traders, are in complete support of the planned effort.

“For one, most of the markets were established some thirty to forty years ago,and in all honesty, there is the need to bring them to at least National best standards, if not global .

“In building them, certain necessary facilities that add value and provide safety were not considered and we believe that with the planned remodeling and reconstruction efforts, all the identified fault lines will be addressed.

“However, our concern is that the exercise should be carried out in such a way that the original  shop owners are carried along and guaranteed of the safety of their investments.

“We are saying this because the efforts of the immediate past administration at Ariaria International Market has, today, left several thousands of original shop owners in pain, with some dead as a result of  the loss of their means of livelihood.

“The demolition that preceded the reconstruction efforts saw several thousands of traders losing their shops, the most hard hit being we, the Medicine dealers, and others on the popular A and B lines of Ariaria.

“Some of the Medicine dealers who could afford it had to relocate to the Ecumi Plaza ,while several thousands of others who survived the shock are still stranded”, Okorie stated

He, therefore, appealed to Governor Otti, to make good  his promise of returning to the original owners their shops, and added that the traders will forever appreciate him for any efforts to bring succor to them.

“During the last elections, majority of the  traders threw their support behind the Governor because we sincerely believed that he will wipe away our tears .

“So far, the Governor Otti has not disappointed going by the serious transformation going on in all facets of Abia State . He has shown capacity, commitment, dedication, and sincerity of purpose within the short period in the saddle, and we are optimistic that his transformation agenda will trickle down to the point of resettling all displaced traders as he promised during the election”

The former Chairman of the Medicine Dealers, also, urged the  new leadership of the body to ensure the sustenance of the understanding, cooperation, mutual respect and collaboration that have been existing between the body ,National Food  Drugs and  Administration Control NAFDAC, and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, and added that the cordial relationship has brought about the reign of sanity in the medicine distribution chain at the market .

“Before the election, I appealed to our people on the need to elect credible and committed leadership, which will ensure that sanity continue to dominate in the system. Consumers will be better served and businesses thrive if sanity is allowed to reign” Okorie emphasised

The activities of the medicine dealers will now be  coordinated by  Chima Amadi, Chukwudi Anams ,Sunday Nwugo as Chairman ,Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively.

By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu has remarked that the nation’s treasury is sacrosanct and must not be abused.

The President assured that his administration will deploy resources to critical sectors and areas with significant impact on the welfare of Nigerians.

A statement by Presidential Spokesman, Ajuri Ngalele stated that Tinubu spoke at a meeting with the Forum of State Chairmen of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) at the State House in Abuja on Friday.

“As we are fighting corruption, smugglers, and old subsidy beneficiaries, they most certainly will fight back. All those who falsified records and became losers with the subsidy (on petroleum products) removal, they will fight back.

“But we will defend our people. The treasury belongs to the people, and that sacred trust must not be abused.”

The President assured Nigerians that his government is working around the clock to improve their living conditions, and asked leaders at the grassroots level to encourage citizens to get their National Identification Number (NIN) for planning, structuring interventions and to achieve their full integration into various relief programmes.

“The programme of our government will be truly progressive; student loans, a national consumer credit system, and social welfare for the unemployed, as well as graduates.

“Every Nigerian will find a place of belonging in our country. In the eye of even the biggest hurricane, we will find that place of tranquillity and prosperous harmony for the benefit of all. Nigerians will all partake on this national journey to prosperity.”

Emphasizing the central role of agriculture in expanding and accelerating Nigeria’s economic growth, President Tinubu told the state party chairmen, led by the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, that his government had already drawn up a blueprint for large-scale livestock farming, which will be activated soon.

“We are bringing mechanized farming to the fore. Yesterday’s crisis will become today’s opportunity. Fertilizers are being supplied to farmers as we speak.

“Agriculture and economic diversification provide the answers to our problems. We will not continue to import food. We know how to turn lack into abundance, and the world will watch us do it again.”

President Tinubu pointed out that the repositioning of the economy is a top national priority as he urged party members not to wait for an appointment before bringing good governance and exemplary civic engagement to the doors of Nigerians.

“I urge the state chairmen that regardless of party affiliation, let us help citizens by mobilizing them for NIN registration. Not just PVCs.

“Some are poor Nigerians who have not experienced formal education and have no understanding of what NIN is and how it will benefit their lives. We must teach them. We must care for them.

“Without NIN, we can not embark on social security interventions for the vulnerable. We will be making faulty moves without accurate data and iron-clad, digital intervention structures.

“I have established a committee of governors, and it is headed by the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima. It is working on what must be done to further lift our people.

“We need to give hope, and we are giving it to the country and our citizens. We are working hard, day and night, even though some agents of destabilization are present in the polity. Nigerians, with our focused support, shall defeat them,” the President affirmed.

APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje said the party is nearly set to establish the Progressive Institute of Policy and Development for the benefit of its members and the broader Nigerian public.

By Ayodele Oni

Association of Northern Nigerian Student (ANNS) has thrown its support behind Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, over his budget padding allegation.

Already, the Senator is currently on suspension over the allegation following his inability to defend the budget padding allegation.

The Northern students threatened to shut down the National Assembly if after 48 Hours, Ningi is not recalled.

This was contained in a statement signed by the president of the association, Sani Adamu and released on Thursday in Abuja.

The statement reads “With humongous dismay and grievances in our heart, the leadership of Association of Northern Nigerian Student totally condemned the decision of the Senate Leadership over the Suspension of Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi.

“As Nigerians may all be aware few days ago, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi allege Senate President of budget padding which #3.7 Trillion remains unaccounted for in the 2024 budget, without specific project.

“It is ridiculous for the Senate Leadership to suspend our entire voice of the Northerners in the senate because we believe in the effective Leadership of Sen. Abdul Ahmed Ningi towards protecting the interest of the North and the Nation at large

“Mr President of the Senate, we want to remind you incase you have forgotten the duty and responsibility of the Legislature.

“Of course what Sen. Abdul Ahmed Ningi did is part of his duty to checkmate the budget, ensure full implementation, and make laws for the country.

“We are proud of Sen. Abdul Ningi the fact that he proves to his constituents that he knows what he is doing as well he is representing them very well not as other senators that are sleeping in the Senate, while others are afraid of such brutality and indeed some are only fighting for their pockets.

“In this regard, we will not fold our hands and keep watching this dictatorship of the Senate Leadership which can cause our representatives to be fear of standing and protecting our legitimate interest that will bring development into our Constituency.

“We hereby issue 48 Hours Ultimatum to the Senate Leadership to reverse their decision or face a mega protest that will shutdown National Assembly.”