General
Budget Padding: Senate Recalls Abdul Ningi
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senate has recalled Mr Abdul Ningi, a Bauchi State Senator, who was suspended for three months over budget padding remarks.
His recall followed the adoption of a motion by the Senate Minority Leader, Mr Abba Moro, and co-sponsored by the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Olalere Oyewumi, and the Senate Minority Whip, Mr Osita Ngwu, at Tuesday’s plenary, titled The unconditional recall of Senator Abdul Ningi.
Moving the motion, Mr Moro said that Mr Ningi, the former Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum was suspended for three months following a media interview he granted the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service on March 9.
He alleged that about N3.7 trillion representing over 10 per cent of the 2024 budget was illegally inserted into the 2024 National Budget.
“Ningi was asked to address his allegation of budget padding against the National Assembly, following a motion of urgent national importance moved by Mr Solomon Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
“And failing to address the allegation, the Senate resolved to suspend Ningi for three months for violating legislative rules, misconduct and unethical behaviour for the interview he granted on BBC Media.
“The said Ninigi, being under suspension, has spent over two months outside the precincts of the National Assembly Complex and needs to return to continue with his legislative activities as the senator representing Bauchi Central senatorial district.
“Flowing from the above, the Senate Minority Leadership takes full responsibility for the actions of our colleague Ningi and apologizes on his behalf,” he said.
Seconding the motion, Deputy Senate President, Mr Jibrin Barau said “This Senate is the highest assembly in our sovereign land of Nigeria. A Senate that is composed of men and women of wisdom.
“I commend the minority leader and his team, the entire minority caucus and the entire leadership of the minority caucus.
“This is because I know they acted based on the prompting of the members of the caucus for going in-between and for making sure they got to where we are now
and by bringing forth this motion in a way that the resolution of the issue of Ningi’s suspension is resolved finally.
“It is something they need to be commended for because they have gone to meditate and they are apologising on his behalf.
“I urge the senate, the leadership having apologised on behalf of Ningi, we should accept this apology so as to strengthen our spirit of brothers that we are known for.”
In his remarks, the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio supported the claim.
“Let me thank the majority leadership for this initiative.
“And also note that it was this same Senate that set up a committee for you to mediate and then you were the chairman and then of course, this decision by the Minority leaders and the entirety of the Minority in the Senate seems to have superseded the area and decision of the Senate.
“So, I agree with you. He is a very resourceful senator and one of our own and the Senate is a family irrespective of the political divide, irrespective of the religious divide and irrespective of languages.
“This happening today is in tandem with the spirit of what the national assembly, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have done by bringing back our national anthem which simply says that though tribes and tongues may differ, in brotherhood we stand,” he said.
“The decision of the Senate today is clear evidence that this is one family and though we may come from different constituencies and different states, in brotherhood we stand.
“I congratulate the senate for this decision and I agree that to err is human and to forgive is divine. Our distinguished brother, Sen. Abdul Ningi is hereby recalled to the senate to participate in all activities,” he added.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The 16th Honours Nite of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos State Branch, received the full backing of Stanbic IBTC Capital, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings.
The company sponsored the event, which brought together industry leaders, corporate partners, and public sector decision-makers in the real estate sector.
It was an avenue to recognise and celebrate exceptional achievements in the real estate and development ecosystem.
The chairman of NIESV in Lagos, Mr Gbenga Ismail, while addressing guests at the programme themed Inspiring Excellence, Shaping the Future, said, “Honours Nite gives us the chance to highlight the excellence and integrity inherent in our profession. While we celebrate today’s achievers, we set a precedent for a future that embraces innovation.”
The chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mr Oladele Sotubo, stated, “At Stanbic IBTC Capital, we believe that excellence in the real estate sector is necessary for sustainable growth and community development.
“By supporting events like the NIESV Honours Nite, we underscore our commitment to recognising and empowering the professionals who shape our built environment.
“Together, we can inspire innovation and uphold the highest standards, ensuring a future where quality housing and ethical practices thrive in Nigeria.”
Also, the Head of Real Estate Finance for West Africa at Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mr Tola Akinhanmi, expressed pride in supporting professionals and developers dedicated to providing high-quality housing solutions.
“These awards recognise projects that meet significant market demands and symbolise the progressive vision for the future of real estate in Nigeria,” he said.
At the ceremony, Stanbic IBTC Capital was announced as the winner of the Residential Development of the Period Award. This was for projects that demonstrated significant market influence and superior execution.
Biufort Homes Limited’s Greenwich Gardens (Ketu) won the Silver Award, while UPDC Plc’s The Hampshire earned the Gold Award for its outstanding design, execution, and strategic contribution to the premium residential landscape.
The collaboration between Stanbic IBTC Capital and the group highlights the importance of excellence in the real estate sector.
It sets a foundation for future innovations and advancements especially in underweight asset classes such as the residential sector which will help to catalyse developments and further bridge the housing supply gap in Nigeria.
This further underpins Stanbic IBTC’s value proposition and support to stimulate home ownership and acquisition via our end-to-end product offering including construction/development finance, insurance and various home loan packages which creates effective demand.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The third season of the YouTube series of Anzisha, The Journey, will focus on 30 very young entrepreneurs across Africa.
The documentary series will provide an uncensored glimpse into the grit of the small business owners, letting the viewers know the hurdles, strategic pivots, and moments of leadership that define their journeys.
With over 1.13 million YouTube views last season, The Journey S3 promises to be even more impactful.
This season culminates in a high-stakes pitch competition where four prizes totalling $40,000 will be awarded to the most promising entrepreneurs.
This intense pitch week in Johannesburg, South Africa, is where young founders refine their ideas, validate the work they’ve done over the last two years, and battle for prizes that can transform their ventures.
Viewers will see entrepreneurs navigate uncertainty when faced with unpredictability. These young leaders, aged 15 to 22, come from across Africa, including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Madagascar, Benin, Uganda, Zambia, Ghana, Egypt, DR Congo, and Senegal.
Their ventures span across numerous sectors, from agriculture and food processing to technology, logistics, and personal care, clearly reflecting innovation across the continent.
The series showcases them building sustainable ecosystems that extend beyond financial returns and redefining leadership through inclusive and purpose-driven businesses.
The Managing Director of Anzisha, Didi Onwu, said, “The Journey season 3 is more than just a series; it’s a window into the future of African enterprise.
“It showcases the dedication, innovation, and resilience of young entrepreneurs who are not just building businesses but transforming their communities.”
The Journey’s season 3 offers a rich tapestry of experiences from a broad group of young African entrepreneurs.
Viewers will see the reality of their experiences, the balance of vision and execution, innovation and sustainability, and personal ambition driven by a desire to address gaps within their communities.
This season deepens understanding of the African entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing an honest look at the complexity of developing businesses in emerging markets.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government is already developing a robust Green Methanol Industrial Complex, the highest in Africa and is seeking Brazilian partnership in design, certification and feedstock optimisation for socio-economic development of the country.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji, during a visit of the Ambassador of Brazil to Nigeria, Mr Carlos Gracete, to his office in Abuja, said under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Ministry was driving reforms that will place innovation at the center of job creation, industrial growth and national competitiveness for economic development.
He emphasised that the efforts are being made to mechanize agro-processing and unlock the full potential of cassava, sugarcane and soybean value chain for the betterment of the citizens, reaffirming that the country is ready to work closely with Brazil to co-create inclusive, sustainable and high impact innovation projects.
On his part, the Director-General of the National Space Development Research Agency, NASRDA, Mr Matthew Adepoju while speaking, said that the agency is expanding Nigeria’s satellite capabilities and therefore seeks collaboration with Brazil’s national Institutes for Space Agencies on areas of Remote Sensing, Climate Monitoring, Land Use Analytics, Border Security and Disaster Response.
Also, the envoy said the purpose of the visit was to deepen bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil in key areas through technology, innovation driven development and trade relationships.
Methanol fuel is an alternative biofuel for internal combustion and other engines. It has chemical and physical fuel properties similar to ethanol and current research now focuses on the use as a sustainable marine fuel that will contribute to economic diversification of the country.
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