By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Spain on political consultations, strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries covering economic development among others.

The signing took place on Tuesday in Madrid, according to a statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar after meeting with his Spanish counterpart, Mr José Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain.

According to the statement, both countries also signed agreements to establish mechanisms for regular dialogue to advance areas of mutual interest and consolidate cooperation.

According to the statement issued by Mr Alkasim Abdulkadir, Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to the minister, Mr Tuggar said the agreement aims to boost cooperation within the framework of the Spain-Africa Strategy 2025-2028.

Mr Tuggar said, “Nigeria holds a strategic position for Spain, particularly within the context of West Africa, which has been designated as a region of special priority in Spain’s Africa Strategy.

“Spain is indeed a strategic partner for Nigeria, and this partnership is part of the broader European Union, (EU) efforts to strengthen relationship with the African continent.

The EU has identified Nigeria as a key player in West Africa, and Spain’s relationship with Nigeria as an important aspect of this.

“In this context, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening collaboration in various fields, including economic development, security, education, energy and the fight against climate change.”

The minister explained that the meeting centered on the respective countries role to ensure regional stability and development across the continent.

“We discussed the regional situation, particularly in the Sahel and West Africa.

“We highlighted the importance of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as a key player in regional stability and development. Additionally, we exchanged views on other challenges facing the continent.

“On international affairs, we shared concerns regarding the situations in Gaza and Ukraine, and reaffirming our commitment to peace, stability and respect for international law.

“This visit represents significant steps to deepen relationship between Spain and Nigeria. We are committed to continuing to deepen our cooperation for the benefit of our peoples and strengthening of Africa-Europe relations,” he added.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

No fewer than 60,000 bags of rice have been donated to poor and vulnerable people in Katsina and Kwara States by the Aliko Dangote Foundation.

This gesture is coming two weeks after the organisation kicked off the distribution of one million bags of rice worth N16 billion across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria to support the needy.

In Kastina State, the foundation shared 35,000 bags of rice on Tuesday among beneficiaries chosen across the 361 wards of the 34 Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state.

A representative of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Mr Mustapha Umar, at a ceremony to flagg-off the distribution at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium, said the gesture was part of the group’s humanitarian effort to cushion the economic hardship being faced by vulnerable persons.

“This year’s gesture is targeting over one million vulnerable Nigerians, aimed at reducing their hardship due to the economic situation in the country.

“The foundation was in various parts of the country to offer similar support to assist people, especially Muslims to observe the Ramadan fasting with relative ease,” Mr Umar stated, noting that 94 persons will benefit from the donation from each of the political ward in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the state government, the Hisbah Board Commander, Dr Aminu Usman, said the support would go a long way in reducing the challenges of the poor.

He commended the organisation for the initiative, saying that such will complement the effort made by the state government through providing free Ramadan feeding among other things, calling on other wealthy individuals to imbibe the culture of assisting the less privileged, especially in the holy month of Ramadan.

Also, in Kwara State, the foundation extended its Food Intervention Programme the 16 local government areas of the state.

The team, led by the Group General Manager Human Resources for Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Ahmed Gobir, said, “This is not just a gesture of charity; it is a demonstration of our commitment to set Nigerians and Africans up for success, it is a testament to further foster the Aliko Dangote Foundation’s four-pillar goal in nutrition, health, education and empowerment.

“By providing these bags of rice, we aim to alleviate the immediate hunger and hardship experienced by many and contribute to the broader goal of food security in Kwara State and Nigeria at large.

“As we move forward, the Aliko Dangote Foundation remains committed to identifying and addressing the pressing needs of our communities. We will continue to work tirelessly to support vulnerable populations, create opportunities for growth and development, and build a brighter future for all Nigerians.”

The Governor of Kwara State, Mr Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman, represented by his deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi, praised the foundation for alleviating the suffering of the vulnerable, saying it is a great inspiration and one that is worth emulation.

“The rice, which will be distributed to indigent families across the state, comes at a crucial time, as our Muslim brothers and sisters observe the sacred month of Ramadan and our Christian brothers and sisters are in the season of Lent. It is an act of compassion that will provide much-needed relief to those who are fasting and in need.

“This gesture not only complements the ongoing efforts of the Kwara State Government to support vulnerable communities, but it also demonstrates the power of partnership between the public and private sectors in lifting our people out of hardship,” he said.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Senate is investigating all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and even infrastructural development across the country to determine their level of compliance with Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which focuses on the federal character principle.

The federal character principle mandates that the government at all its levels should reflect Nigeria’s diversity to ensure national unity and prevent domination and also ensure that all communities have fair and equitable representation in governance.

The upper chamber has mandated its Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to conduct a thorough investigation hearing into possible infringement of this principle.

This resolution followed a motion raised by Senator Osita Ngwu, who acknowledged the persistent challenges in achieving equity within Nigeria’s public service, including limited recruitment opportunities, skewed promotions based on years of service rather than merit, and a lack of mobility for workers outside the public sector.

Lawmakers also noted that despite constitutional provisions mandating fair representation across ethnic, linguistic, religious, and geographic lines, imbalances continue to exist.

The Senate specifically criticised several federal institutions, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company  (NNPC) Limited and its subsidiaries, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), among others, for allegedly failing to adhere to federal character mandates in their recruitment processes.

The committee is expected to report back within three months with findings and recommendations to ensure fair and equitable representation in federal appointments, promotions, recruitment and infrastructural distribution across the over 900 MDAs.