General
463 Kwara Civil Servants Get N303.8m Loan for Home Renovation
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The sum of N303.8 million has been disbursed to 463 civil servants in Kwara State as mortgage loans to renovate or improve existing properties that are personally owned by them or through family ownership.
The credit facility was given to the beneficiaries on Monday by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) under the FMBN home renovation loan scheme.
The Managing Director of the agency, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, explained that the loan window affords Nigerians who are contributors to the National Housing Fund (NNF) an opportunity to access mortgage loans.
Mr Dangiwa, who was represented by the Deputy General Manager of FMBN, Mr Ibrahim Nafada, said before now, the agency had approved a sum of N401.2 million for 708 members of staff of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education which will be credited to individual beneficiaries’ accounts after execution of all other conditions precedent to disbursement.
“Permit me to applaud the commitment and cooperation of the Governor [of Kwara State] Mr AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the Head of Service (HoS), Mrs Susan Modupe, in executing these documents promptly which has enabled the Kwara State civil servants to benefit from FMBN home renovation loan to the tune of N1,025,283,000 disbursed to 1,575 beneficiaries. Today, we are disbursing the sum of N303,750,000 to 463 beneficiaries,” he said.
At the presentation of cheques to the 463 beneficiaries, the Governor, while speaking, said, “This home renovation loan scheme is basically an initiative of the FMBN that many of you have enrolled in.
“You have played your own role by enrolling in the scheme, trusting the system to work for you, playing your own role as patriotic citizens and as workers.
“For you to benefit from this loan, however, your state government must stand as your guarantor. And we gladly did because we trust that you have also worked to earn our trust,” Mr AbdulRazaq said at the event attended by civil servants from across ministries, departments, and agencies in the state.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, the Governor promised to mobilise available resources and grab every opportunity to improve the wellbeing of the civil servants as well as the ordinary citizens.
“Without workers, nothing meaningful gets done. For this reason, we will always mobilise available resources and grab every opportunity to improve the well-being of the civil servants as well as the ordinary citizens. This event is another testimony of the resolve of this administration to grab every opportunity to make our workers happy,” he added.
“We are ensuring that workers across all cadres enjoy their promotion and the pay rise that comes with it. We have also approved training and retraining for workers while offering support to those of you pursuing further degrees at home or abroad.
“We have also ensured a decent work environment with relevant tools through completion of the secretariat, purchase of new vehicles, and modern computers and accessories. We continue to support workers with health issues. We have also ensured that workers are paid as and when due as a matter of right.
“We are also considering other supportive measures to ease the effects of inflation on what you earn. For example, we are building a public school system that offers our children a standard that will be the envy of other states and the pride of our people.
“The recent recruitment of qualified and competent teachers is a bold beginning. We are following it up with school remodelling and reconstruction across the state,” the Governor stated.
Mr AbdulRazaq appealed to civil servants to continue to trust the government and work with the administration to build a sustainable future for all of the Kwara people.
For her part, the HoS said the present administration was doing everything possible to tap all available opportunities and resources from both governmental and non-governmental organisations for the benefit of the people.
“The scheme was designed especially for contributors to the National Housing Fund to benefit from their contributions on lower interest rates.
“Through the committed efforts of government, the FMBN not only approved the loan for all interested civil servants, who indicated their interests but also made cheques for them.
“I want to advise the beneficiaries of the first phase and those to benefit in subsequent batches to make use of the loan for the purpose for which it is meant for. A comfortable home for a civil servant is no doubt a sine-qua-non for comfortable living which ultimately would lead to the high productivity of such civil servant,” she said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A hotline number, 0800 123 5264, for Nigerians to report any MRS Oil Nigeria Plc filling stations selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, above the approved pump price of N739 per litre, has been released by Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The private refiner said the number was now active nationwide, enabling consumers to promptly report violations and help maintain fair pricing across over 2,000 MRS stations.
This measure follows the refinery’s recent commencement of nationwide PMS sales at N739 per litre—a strategic intervention aimed at stabilising fuel prices and easing the financial burden on Nigerians during the festive season.
“We encourage Nigerians to avoid purchasing PMS at inflated prices when locally refined fuel is available at N739 per litre.
“Report any MRS station selling above this price by calling our hotline. Together, we can ensure that the benefits of this price reduction reach every consumer,” the company stated in a statement.
The organisation stressed its mission to deliver affordable, high-quality fuel while safeguarding national economic interests, reaffirming its commitment to steady supply, backed by a guaranteed daily output of 50 million litres, and warned against attempts to create artificial scarcity or manipulate supply.
Regulatory authorities have been urged to remain vigilant and take decisive action against unpatriotic practices.
By refining locally at scale, Dangote Refinery is reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports, conserving foreign exchange, stabilising the Naira, and strengthening energy security. This initiative represents a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward sustainable energy solutions and economic recovery.
The refinery also issued a stern warning against attempts by unscrupulous operators to create artificial scarcity in response to the price reduction, calling on government agencies to act decisively.
“Any attempt to create artificial scarcity or manipulate supply to frustrate recent price reductions is unpatriotic and unacceptable. We urge regulatory authorities to remain vigilant and take firm action against such practices, especially during this critical festive period,” the statement added.
Consumers were advised to resist purchasing fuel at inflated prices when cheaper, high-quality alternatives are readily available.
By Bon Peters
The Airport Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) at Omagwa Rivers State has praised the Customs Area Controller for Customs Area 1 Command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku.
At the end-of-the-year party attended by stakeholders, including the leader of the association’s chapter, Mr Charles Onyema, said the customs officer has done well in stakeholder engagement and trade facilitation.
At the event held last Friday, he said his association has been enjoying a very cordial relationship with other organisation in the ecosystem.
“You can see what is happening today, everybody is working together and our operations here are seamless,” he noted.
He stated that apart from creating a very robust business environment for his members and other stakeholders to operate, he has taken a decision to build and commission a befitting ANLCA Secretariat which would be completed soon and be commissioned by the ANLCA national president, Mr Emenike Nwokeoji.
The ANLCA chapter chief said since “Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku assumed office at Customs Area 1, Port Harcourt Command, it has been a different ball game, facilitating trade and increasing Revenue generation.”
“I remember I told her she was a mother during her maiden visit to the airport.
“You know when you have a woman in charge of an affair, food will not lack, compassion will not lack and motherly love will not lack.
“She is very wonderful in stakeholder engagement, revenue generation and trade facilitation,” Mr Onyema enthused.
Projecting into the future, Mr. Onyema said the year 2026 would be better for his members, adding that he has advised them on financial discipline which he said would help them during the trying period.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has declared Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025, as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day respectively.
The government also declared Thursday, January 1, 2026, for the New Year celebration.
The declaration was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to the statement, the Minister urged Nigerians to reflect on the values of love, peace, humility and sacrifice associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Mr Tunji-Ojo also called on citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity, to use the festive season to pray for peace, improved security and national progress.
He further advised Nigerians to remain law-abiding and security-conscious during the celebrations, while wishing them a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Business Post reports that on these public holidays – the foreign exchange market, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), as well as the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange will not open to trade.
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