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Flood: Borno Needs Urgent Help From Nigerians, Stakeholders—Dangote

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Dangote Borno Flood Victims

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Chairman of the National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Aliko Dangote, has called on Nigerians and stakeholders to support flood victims in Borno State.

The businessman made this appeal when he visited Maiduguri and donated N1 billion to the state through the Aliko Dangote Foundation.

Mr Dangote, who is also the head of the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR), also announced the donation of N1 billion from the committee.

He noted that the state needs the intervention of stakeholders for the flood victims, describing the incident as “mindboggling” and exclaiming that he has “never seen a disaster of this scale before.”

“I am moved with pity; I have never seen a disaster of this magnitude before. The state needs urgent help and intervention from well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders.

“A lot of infrastructural development needs to be done; the houses and roads need urgent attention for people to get their lives back. Again, we are asking that corporate organisations need to intervene and provide succour in every way possible as the government cannot do it alone,” he said.

In his remarks, Borno State governor, Mr Babagana Zulum, appreciated Mr Dangote’s support, stating that he has contributed immensely to the development of the state, adding that he was not surprised to see the business mogul visit the disaster area as a solidarity gesture. He called on well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the businessman in his charitable contributions.

Recall that the flood has displaced over a million residents and about 30 persons have been confirmed dead.

The Director-General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Barkindo Mohammed, stated that “As of 5pm on Thursday, SEMA evacuated 3,683 persons from their homes in a rescue operation. The search and rescue operation is still ongoing.

“The mode of rescue involves motorists, boats, canoes, divers, military, and fire service trucks, among others. As the water continues to recede, we are concentrating on those who make distress calls and will start search and rescue today and tomorrow.”

According to him, about two million people were affected, and so far, SEMA has opened 14 official camps and many informal camps where displaced persons can go. He said that the federal government supported the state with N3 billion in food consignments.

“President Bola Tinubu has supported Borno and other states with N3 billion each. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has forwarded the money to SEMA, and he has added more on what the federal government gave. We are not only responding to the flood victims in Maiduguri but also in Local Government Areas across the state,” Mr Mohammed said.

In early December 2022, the Mr Dangote-led PCFRR, known as the Dangote Flood Committee, commenced the distribution of relief materials, worth N1.5 billion to victims of flooding nationwide. The PCFRR, which was established by the Federal Government following the 2012 flooding, is co-chaired by him and a renowned legal giant, Mr Olisa Agbakoba.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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Boko Haram: Senate Seeks Speedy Military Deployment to Borno, Yobe

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Boko Haram attack lake chad UN

By Adedapo Adesanya

Amid the resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram in Borno and Yobe States, the Senate on Tuesday asked the military to urgently redeploy personnel and advanced equipment to tackle terrorists in the areas.

The resolution followed the recent killing of over a dozen soldiers in Marte town of the Monguno Local Government Area on Monday, May 12, and a subsequent assault early Tuesday on Gajiram, the headquarters of the Nganzai Local Government Area.

In a motion raised by the Senate Chief Whip, Mr Tahir Munguno, lawmakers claimed while two-thirds of the local government areas in Borno were once under Boko Haram control, collaborative efforts between the Nigerian military and civilian joint task force had successfully reclaimed the territories.

They, however, said the restored peace has led to a relocation of the tactical command to the North-West, where the military is combating kidnapping and banditry.

Expressing concern over the militants’ evolving tactics, Mr Munguno highlighted the use of modern technologies by the group, including drones and an increase in the deployment of improvised explosive devices, which have led to high civilian and military casualties, disrupting transportation networks.

The Senate urged the military high command to swiftly redeploy sufficient troops to the North-East and ensure they are adequately equipped with modern technology to effectively combat the renewed threat, as well as mandate the committees on the army and air force to monitor and ensure compliance with this directive.

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PenCom Targets 20 Million Pension Contributors by 2027

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Nigeria's pension assets

By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has said it hopes to achieve about 20 million pension contributors by the end of year 2027, as against the over 10.65 million it currently counts.

The Director-General of PenCom, Ms Omolola Oloworaran, said this over the weekend at the Pension Industry Leaders’ Retreat in Lagos.

According to her, the target would be achieved through the expansion of Personal Pension Plan (PPP) formerly known as Micro Pension Plan (MPP); constant engagements with stakeholders; enforcement of pension compliance certificates, especially by state governments amongst other initiatives.

She noted that the retreat has provided opportunities for the industry to adopt new strategies, stating that the resolutions reached will be fully implemented before the end of first quarter 2026.

On pension contributions, she said the industry expects a 50 per cent growth, stating that pension growth is essential for economic growth and development.

As of February 28, 2025 the pension fund assets was N23.27 trillion and Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders 10.65 million.

Recall that recently, the pension regulator announced the recovery of N1.58 billion from defaulting employers through enhanced enforcement efforts as total pension assets under management (AuM) surpassed N23 trillion as of February.

The DG also announced state remittances had also improved, reflecting a greater adoption of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

Ms Oloworaran noted that in spite of these advancements, challenges remain, as only 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had enacted laws to implement the CPS.

“Six states operate hybrid schemes, while another six have bills at advanced legislative stages.

“Notable progress has been made in Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, and Abia states. However, full implementation of the CPS is currently limited to eight states,” she explained at the First Run 2025 Consultative Forum for States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) held in Kano in late April.

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CBN Warns Against Fictitious Persons Offering Contracts, Grants

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CBN IMTOs

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again reacted to the activities of individuals and groups falsely claiming to represent or act on its behalf, warning Nigerians against falling for these schemes.

According to the Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the CBN, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, in a statement, these persons continue to circulate fictitious offers of contracts, loans, grants, intervention funds, and other financial benefits allegedly issued or endorsed by the CBN.

“Despite the public advisory issued on November 18, 2024, through the Bank’s official channels and news outlets, these misleading schemes have persisted, targeting unsuspecting members of the public with false and deceptive narratives,” the statement said.

“The CBN wishes to reiterate that it has not authorised, licensed, or appointed any individual, group, or organisation to act as an agent or intermediary in offering contracts, financial grants, or intervention funds to the public. The CBN also does not endorse or support such claims in any form.

“Members of the public are advised that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not award contracts or disburse funds through unsolicited communications such as emails, phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp, or any social media platform. It also does not request payment of fees in exchange for contracts, grants, or financial interventions, nor does it engage intermediaries or third parties to offer financial services or opportunities to the public.

“If you are approached by individuals or entities making such claims, we strongly advise that you do not engage with them. Instead, such incidents should be reported immediately to the relevant law enforcement agencies or the nearest CBN Branch.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria remains committed to safeguarding the financial interests of the Nigerian public and continues to work closely with security agencies to investigate and address fraudulent activities,” the statement said.

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