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.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday raided a Ponzi scheme academy and arrested 133 suspects in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

According to the EFCC’s spokesperson, Mr Dele Oyewale, who confirmed the operation in a statement on Tuesday, the suspects were apprehended at the Compensation Layout in Gwagwalada, Abuja, after receiving actionable intelligence about the academy’s activities.

“The academy, named Q University (also known as Q-Net), lures young Nigerians by promising them unrealistic profits.

“The recruits were trained to further recruit others, using the slogan Special Training for New Generation Billionaire.

“The suspects joined the scheme by filling out an Independent Representative Application Form, with promotional slogans like: I’m a Champion, I’m Unstoppable, and I’m Infinity,” the EFCC said.

The EFCC, in collaboration with officers from the 176 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army, executed the operation, with phones, computers, and other electronic gadgets seized from the suspects, who “will be charged in court once investigations are completed.”

The agency has stepped up efforts to clamp down on illegal activities, particularly those involved in internet fraud schemes.

In January, the anti-graft agency arrested 105 people, including four Chinese nationals, for suspected involvement in a fraudulent scheme targeting hotels in Europe and elsewhere.

Also in December 2024, the EFCC arrested 792 suspects in a raid on a building believed to be a hub for fraudsters who lure their victims with romance scams and phoney cryptocurrency investments on WhatsApp and Instagram.

The suspects included 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals housed in a luxury in Lagos targeting victims from the Americas and Europe.