General
Kaduna Train Attack: Senate Tells Military Smoke Out Terrorists
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senate has called on the Army and Airforce to, as a matter of urgency, bombard terrorist enclaves with a view to restoring peace and stability in the country.
The call was made on Tuesday in response to a point of order raised on “the continuing attacks on communities and public facilities in Kaduna State” by Senator Uba Sani.
The lawmaker noted that terrorists have in recent times increasingly attacked some communities and public facilities in Kaduna State.
According to him, “the latest attacks by these murderous elements took place in some communities in Giwa Local Government, namely Angwan Sarki Yahya, Tashar Shari, Bare-Bari, Tsaunin Natal, Dillalai, Durumi and Jatin Kanwa, all on Yakawada Ward.
“Other places affected include Kaya community, Mai kyauro and Fatika. They killed 50 persons and kidnapped 100 people. They also made strategic roads in Giwa Local Government no go areas.
“Not done with their devilish acts, they made an attempt to penetrate the Kaduna International Airport.
“Although the attack was foiled by vigilant security operatives, one person lost his life. When people were trying to come to grips with week-long wanton destruction of lives and property, the terrorists struck again.”
He bemoaned the attacks by bandits on a Kaduna bound train carrying over 970 passengers around Kateri – Rijana axis in Kaduna, just a few kilometres to the Rigasa Train Station in Igabi Local Government Area of the State.
“The train derailed after the first wave of attacks. Grenades and RPG were used. They rained bullets on all the coaches. Some passengers were killed, while many sustained bullet wounds.
“There are reports that some of the passengers were abducted. The terrified passengers only breathed a sigh of relief when security agencies arrived and secured the train and the area. It’s been a reign of undiluted terror,” Mr Sani said.
He noted that “these latest attacks are aimed at instilling fear in the people and destroying the economies of our local communities.
“It is disheartening that these enemies of the people are getting emboldened by the day. They are becoming more brazen. These blood cuddling vampires have no regard for human life. They have no place in a civilized society.”
He expressed concern that the unrelenting attacks call to question the strategies and tactics being adopted by our security forces.
“We expected that with the declaration of bandits as terrorists by a court of competent jurisdiction, they will be degraded in no time.
“This appears not to be happening. The security forces must reassess their strategies and come up with workable and effective solutions to the menace of terrorists in Kaduna State”, he added.
Mr Sani noted that the forests where the terrorists hold sway are not impregnable, adding that, “a comprehensive operational plan, executed with high sense of professionalism and responsibility, total commitment on the part of our security forces and the support and cooperation of the local communities will rid Kaduna State forests of these murderous elements.”
He used the position to advocate the creation of state police, saying that it would bring law enforcement closer to the people.
“Effective gathering of intelligence and sustained security operations at the local level will make life uncomfortable for terrorists.
“They will have no operational base; and once again draw the attention of the federal government, particularly security agencies comprising the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army and other relevant security agencies to the grave security situation in Kaduna State and other states of the federation”, he said.
Contributing, Senator Gabriel Suswam lamented that Kaduna had become the new theatre of insecurity, saying that the lingering activities of terrorists in the state make it imperative for the appropriate authorities to take decisive action.
The lawmaker attributed the inability of the military to curtail growing incidents of terrorism to “a clear failure of leadership.”
On his part, Senator Danjuma La’ah said if the security situation in the country is not nipped in the bud, political leaders would become the main targets of terrorists.
The Senate, accordingly, in its resolutions, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a full-scale war against terrorists so as to fully secure all our national territory from them in whatever guise.
The red chamber of the parliament urged the Army and the Air Force to carry out a sustained bombardment of terrorist enclaves with a view to flushing them out and restoring peace and stability to our communities.
The Senate further directed security agencies to always take steps to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future.
It added that the Military should, as a matter of urgency, monitor the construction and inhabitants of new shanty buildings around the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.
The chamber urged the relevant agencies of government to step up their information-gathering mechanism to, forestall these incessant attacks.
It also called on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant government agencies to assist the affected communities with relief materials.
The chamber urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements to security operatives.
The Senate, thereafter, held a minute silence to mourn the deceased in Monday’s attacks.
It condoled the families of the victims of the attacks and the government and people of Kaduna State.
Business Post understands that no statement has been made by the Presidency concerning the latest attack as of press time.
By Dipo Olowookere
Entrepreneurs living in Ogun State have been given an opportunity to get about €30,000 in funding support their businesses for expansion.
The beneficiaries would be expected to come up with innovative solutions to challenges in the circular economy.
They will undergo a six-month training programme designed to prepare them for the tasks ahead.
Apart from the monetary benefits, the intending participants, who must be between the ages of 18 and 35, will receive enterprise development training and capacity building, have access to local and international markets, enjoy mentorship from industry experts and peer networks, and get personalized coaching and business support.
Business Post reports that this platform was provided by the Orange Corners Nigeria (OCN) Incubation Programme.
The initiative has already called for applications for the 13th cohort, with the deadline fixed for Sunday, May 18, 2025.
Applicants must operate in the circular economy, agriculture, health, renewable energy, or technology sectors to qualify for the scheme exclusively for Ogun residents.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian government has inaugurated a special inter-ministerial committee on research and innovation to ensure food security in Nigeria and slash the cost of food by 50 per cent.
The team was also charged on energy security and curtailing the nation’s dependence on import.
The Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima, inaugurated the panel at the State House Abuja with a charge to them to work towards cutting down Nigeria’s import bills by 50 per cent.
He said the group is part of ongoing efforts by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to pool intellectual and financial capital to “create the cockpit from which Nigeria’s innovation economy will be piloted.”
“We are here to breathe life not into this Committee, but into a bold mission: to build Nigeria into an innovation-driven, trillion-dollar economy within a decade. The future we desire is not something we inherit. It is something we build,” he declared.
On its terms of reference, Mr Shettima said it is to coordinate action in five strategic sectors with the power to transform society.
He listed the committee to include “Agriculture and Climate Resilience, where research innovation must feed our people and protect our planet; Manufacturing Excellence, where we break our dependency on imports and build proudly Nigerian supply chains; Healthcare Innovation, where we shift from importing medicines to exporting medical breakthroughs; Natural Resource Optimisation, where we stop selling raw materials and start exporting ingenuity; and Energy Security, where we power our economy and secure our future.”
The Vice President explained that a major target for setting up the panel was to reduce Nigeria’s food import bill by 50 per cent, maintaining that “in each of these areas, we will pursue missions, not just metrics.
“We will not be content with data for dashboards—we want deliverables that change lives. What will it take to reduce our food import bill by 50 per cent? How do we triple local pharmaceutical production? Let us align policy, research, and investment to answer these questions and achieve measurable, meaningful outcomes,” he added.
Mr Shettima disclosed that the team is a prelude to a Presidential Plenary on Innovation approved by President Tinubu, saying the high-level plenary, which will be held annually, will be presided over by the President himself.
“This committee is only the beginning. President Tinubu has approved a Presidential Plenary on Innovation—an annual high-level forum that will bring together academia, research institutes, industry, civil society, and the Nigerian people to align our national innovation priorities.
“This plenary will be addressed by Mr President himself, because innovation is a presidential area of priority. It is central to his vision for a new Nigeria,” the VP explained in a statement.
Present at the inauguration were the ministers of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji, Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Abubakar Kyari; Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani; Mr Balarabe Lawal; Mr Idi Mukhtar and representatives of the Ministers of Education, Budget and Economic Planning, and Foreign Affairs, among other members of the committee.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has made a pledge to electricity generating companies known as Gencos on the payment of 50 per cent of a N4 trillion debt to avert a promised halt in electricity generation in the country.
The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, made this promise on Thursday, saying that while the government can’t pay the entire N4 trillion, it would clear N2 trillion before the end of the year.
Business Post reports that of the N4 trillion owed, N2 trillion is for electricity generated in 2024, while around N1.9 trillion represents legacy debts.
On Monday, GenCos threatened to shut down the country’s power generation over the debt owed by the federal government.
The GenCos lamented that the mounting liabilities were crippling their ability to operate and threatening a total shutdown of electricity generation in Nigeria.
Mr Adelabu said the government has put in place measures to defray the debt through budgetary allocation and promissory notes.
“Almost all of the debt is inherited, while about half came from 2024.
“There are plans under way to clear the debt; while I am not sure that the debt will be cleared 100 per cent, it will be paid gradually.
“The modes of payment are of two ways: we have some budgetary allocation that will facilitate cash payment, and we are also in discussion with Gencos to get them some promissory notes. I can tell you that before now to the end of the year, we are going to pay close to N2 trillion of the 4 trillion,” he said.
He also revealed that Nigeria has achieved a 35 per cent reduction in electricity subsidies following a tariff increase implemented last year for some users.
The government last year eliminated subsidies for the 15 per cent of customers classified as premium users of electricity, including households and businesses consuming larger amounts of electricity under Band A, meaning they paid higher than other classes from Band B to E.
Mr Adelabu said this targeted tariff adjustment has yielded significant results, with “the market generating an additional N700 billion in revenue, reflecting a 70 per cent increase.”
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