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US govt hails Tinubu’s reforms

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The United States government has acknowledged reforms and policies of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing them as bold.

Secretary of State, Antony Blinken took the position Tuesday at a bilateral meeting with the Nigerian President

Blinken lauded some of the bold economic reforms embarked upon by the president since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.

Addressing newsmen in company with Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister, Yusuf Tuggar, after meeting with Tinubu, Blinken welcomed the president’s “bold reforms to unify the currency and end fuel subsidy”. He stressed the need to remove impediments to capital repatriation.

According to Blinken, “Nigeria offers real opportunities for investors. At the same time, I think it’s no secret that there remains long term challenges that need to be removed to be able to really unlock the full potential, making it easier for foreign companies to repatriate capital.

“There remains some impediments that we hear from our own business community that I think stand in the way of maximising those opportunities. One is the repatriation of capital. I know that the central bank governor is working on that.

“Second is the ongoing effort to combat corruption because companies that come in and invest want to make sure that they’re going to be investing with a fair, level playing field and corruption, of course, is a big impediment.”

Blinken arrived Nigeria as part of his four-nation African tour. He stressed his country’s commitment to strengthening genuine partnership with countries in Africa to solve shared challenges.

He stated that the bilateral meeting with Tinubu revolved around a range of common priorities, including America’s focus on accelerating economic growth and opportunity in Nigeria.

Blinken said, “This is a place of extraordinary innovation, extraordinary dynamism. I’ve had the opportunity to visit many times over the years. I’ve seen that each and every time and I expect to see more of that latest tomorrow.

“American entrepreneurs, American companies are eager to partner and invest in Nigeria’s economy, particularly, in the tech sector.

“We have tech giants that are teamed up with Nigerian partners to help the president’s new one million digital jobs Initiative.

“Other companies are part of work laying undersea cables, using satellite technology to expand access to the internet. Our tech incubators are fostering Nigeria’s next start-ups.

“Our venture capital companies are working to finance, so we want to work in partnership to help drive Nigeria’s technological revolution, which is creating jobs. It’s growing businesses, and it’s growing innovations in both of our countries.

“Because one of the things we’ve learned from these partnerships is that it benefits us as much as any place or any country that we’re investing. We’re learning a lot from where we’re getting a lot.”

Blinken explained further, “One of the initiatives that President Biden laid out is the digital transformation with Africa Initiative. We see it as particularly energised and triggered focus for us.

“Now, Nigeria offers real, clear, compelling opportunities for investors. At the same time, I think it’s no secret that there remains some long term challenges that need to be overcome, to really unlock the full potential.

“Tackling corruption, and making it easier for foreign companies to repatriate capital. These will all pull in a transformative direction and pull in transformative direct investment.”

Acknowledging existing the cooperation between the US and Nigeria, Blinken explained, “Nigeria, as Africa’s largest country, largest economy, largest democracy, is essential to that effort. And we are doing a lot of work together already.

“To drive a positive direction, we’re driving climate action.

“We’re working in collaboration to support the development and use of artificial intelligence for goods with 30 other Atlantic countries. We’re driving blue economy development, environmental protection, science and technology exchange, through a new partnership for learning cooperation.”

Nigeria Tuggar, in his remarks, said the bilateral talks dealt with issues, such as, food security, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and security in the sub-region. He said the discussion was fruitful.

Blinken was received at the forecourt of Tinubu’s office about 6.55pm yesterday.

Apart from the foreign affairs minister, other government officials on hand to receive Blinken were Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ex Air Peace staff praises Allen Onyena’s exceptional leadership, benevolence

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A former employee of Air Peace, who simply identified herself as Tade, has made a social media post on her recent encounter with the Chairman/CEO of the airline, Dr. Allen Onyena and praised him for his exceptional goodwill, benevolence and kind word of encouragement.

Tade who said she resined from Air Peace last year to set up a fashion outfit, after receiving blessings from Allen Onyena, quoted the airline’s CEO to have commended her for establishing her own business, said the encounter took place on Wednesday when the Air Peace boss paid a visit to her business premises

The obviously excited lady said- “It was such a beautiful moment having my boss visit my factory. And honestly, I still struggle to call him my former boss. Some people may be former bosses by designation, but the place they occupy in your life does not change simply because you no longer work in the same organisation.

“Two days ago, when he told me he wanted to come see the factory, I honestly wondered if he would be able to make it. I had seen how incredibly busy his schedule was, meetings, guests, engagements, one thing after another, and some of those meetings stretched well into yesterday evening.

“But around 7pm, after what I can only imagine was an incredibly long and stressful day, he still came.

“And he didn’t just come in, take a quick look around and leave. The entire house came alive.

“We received him warmly, and his presence brought such a beautiful energy into the building. He took time to speak with the staff, interacted with my friend, Mr. Jire, and his wife about their business, and then came into my office and sat with me.

“And for a while, it was just my boss being my boss.

“We talked about entrepreneurship, people management, business management, governance, leadership, and the challenges that come with growing a business, including some of the challenges I cannot even see yet. He reminded me, in his own way, that growth does not mean the challenges stop. They simply change.

“And then came that moment:

“You are now an employer of labour yourself, Tadé.”

She continued – “I don’t think he knows what those words meant to me. October will make it a year since I resigned from Air Peace and left with his blessing.

“And here I was yesterday, almost a year later, standing in my own factory, surrounded by people who now work for the fashion company I am building, while the man I once reported to was standing there looking at what has grown from that decision.

“There was something deeply emotional about it. Because when I met this man in 2023, I could not have known all that the years ahead would hold.

“Meeting you, sir, and working with you was never a coincidence. It was a necessary chapter in my life. A needed season. A significant part of the journey that brought me here. And I will always cherish it.

“Thank you, sir, for your leadership. Thank you for the opportunities, the lessons, the corrections, the wisdom, and most especially, for your consistent belief in me.

“Thank you for showing up. And thank you for coming to see what that little girl who once worked with you is building today. It meant more to me than I can properly put into words.

“And on behalf of the entire TADÉ house, thank you for the generous gift. We are deeply grateful.

“Some moments are bigger than the moment itself. Yesterday was one of them.,” she concluded.

All pictures were taken in the moment

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Benue NDC chairman killed in Makurdi

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Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic in  Congress (NDC), Fiidi Council Ward in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Igbu Terhemen, has reportedly been killed by unknown assailants.

Terhemen was said to have been attacked and left unconscious in a bush near his residence around the NNPC Depot, along the Makurdi-Otukpo Road, on the outskirts of Makurdi, the state capital.

A friend of the deceased, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Terhemen left his residence on Tuesday evening to watch a local football match in the Kanshio axis of the town but did not return home.

According to him, family members and friends became worried after the deceased failed to return and subsequently began searching for him.

He said, “He left home to watch the match Tuesday evening and he was expected back home, but nobody saw him. It was while people were looking around for him that he was discovered around 2am Wednesday in a bush near his residence unconscious.

“Unfortunately, he died before he could get medical attention. Strangely, his attackers did not take his phone, which was discovered on him when he was taken to the morgue.

“There was also a needle-like injury on his body, indicating that he could have been injected with a substance by his attackers, dumped in the bush and left to die.

“All that is left for the police to uncover in the course of their investigation because this is a sad development in the state.”

The incident has sparked concern among members of the NDC, with the state chapter condemning the alleged killing and calling on security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding Terhemen’s death.

In a statement issued by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Agile Bem, the NDC described the deceased as a committed member who contributed significantly to the growth of the party in the state.

The statement said, “The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Benue State Chapter, has condemned the gruesome murder of Hon. Igbu Terhemen, who, until his death, was the NDC Chairman of Fiidi Council Ward in Makurdi Local Government Area.

 

 

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Tinubu Signs Appropriation Amendment Bill, Extends Implementation to December 31, 2026

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law the Appropriation (Amendment) (No.4) Bill, 2025, extending the implementation period of the 2025 budget from September 30, 2026 to December 31, 2026.

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga stated this in a press release on Wednesday, saying the president’s assent followed the amendment’s swift passage by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

According to Onanuga, the extension gives Ministries, Departments and Agencies more time to complete ongoing capital projects. It ensures that funds already appropriated are fully put to work for Nigerians, without disrupting critical programmes.

“The President commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for their prompt consideration of the bill, a further sign of the cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature in the service of the nation,” Onanuga said.

 

 

 

 

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