President Bola Tinubu has applauded the investment of $520m in specialised agro-processing zones by the African Development Bank.

According to a statement signed on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, Dele Alake, the president Tinubu made the commendation when he received the AfDB president, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina after the two-day summit on A New Global Financing Pact in Paris.

The president said the investment would further boost the Nigerian economy as it will provide job opportunities and poverty reduction. Tinubu said the agro-industrial project strengthens an area of Nigeria’s competitive advantage as he listed other areas of priority that require Foreign Direct Investment.

He thanked the AfDB President for his vision of setting up a Youth Entrepreneurship Bank in Nigeria that will provide credit, skills, and other support for young Nigerians. However, he urged the Bank to inject funds into projects that target women and youth empowerment.

President Tinubu assured Dr. Adesina that the Federal Government would provide all the necessary assistance to ensure the sustenance of the projects, adding that electricity remained a priority area that needed urgent attention.

In his remarks, the AfDB helmsman thanked the Nigerian leader for the bold initiatives that had repositioned the Nigerian economy in three weeks and stimulated the appetite of investors from different parts of the world; removal of fuel subsidy and harmonisation of exchange rates.

“I commend the President’s foresight, boldness, and determination for macroeconomic policy direction by removing the fuel subsidy,’’ he said. Adding that “No bird can fly with its wings tied behind. All those steps are signals investors like,’’ Adesina said.

Dr. Adesina said the bank would support the economic policies of the new administration in Nigeria, which had placed the people first in development targets.

In another meeting, President Tinubu received executives of Airbus/ATR and assured them that the aviation sector would be “streamlined for efficiency’’, especially in the maintenance of aircraft and training.

Senior Vice President of Airbus/ATR, Public Affairs, Laurent Domergue, assured Tinubu that the company was prepared to invest in the aviation sector, particularly in supplying planes to Nigeria.

 

IGP Egbetokun sensitises 79 Squadrons Commanders on new operational strategies, optimistic of improved Security.

The Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Olukayode Egbetokun, has scheduled a meeting with the 79 Police Mobile Force Squadrons Commanders to brainstorm on his new operational strategies.

He has reassured all citizens of Nigeria that the general security of lives and property in Nigeria will be improved in all ramifications.

This is contained in a statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Sunday in Abuja.
He said the meeting will hold on Monday at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Adejobi noted that the meeting is to update the commanders on new operational strategies for improved training, deployments and enhanced tactical engagements for better public safety and general security in the country.

According to Adejobi, “The IGP has reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force, under his watch, to attain its primacy in the internal security architecture of Nigeria.

“In furtherance of his vision and painstaking drives to achieve his goals, the IG will be meeting with the Commanders of the Police Mobile Force Squadrons Commanders on Monday,”

“The Acting Inspector-General of Police
had also said that present leadership of the force had outlined an array of policing approaches that would be of immense importance to general public safety in Nigeria”.

 

Lagos Police Command Arrest three Notorious Cultists terrorizing, Badagry, Ikorodu and Isolo, Parade 17 Cultists.

Lagos Police Command have already declared war on cultism saying the greatest problem of the Command was the menace of cult activities.

The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer,  SP Benjamin Hundeyin who paraded the suspects said a large number of the cultists were arrested in Badagry, Ikorodu and Isolo, also disclosed that three of the notorious cultists terrorizing Ikorodu, those led by a cultist nicknamed ’70’ in Isolo had been arrested.

                     Cultists Paraded.

Hundeyin said, “We are grateful to the people of Ikorodu, with their support and cooperation we have been able to arrest these cultists.

Nojim Kasamitu,

Abraham Abubakar 37,

Abuwsri 19 years

and Awosenyide Sikiru 29 years;

and others from their community.

“Also in Isolo, it is no longer news that cultism is rearing its ugly head there, I am sure members of the community will be happy with this news, because the CP Idowu Owohunwa charged the Tactical teams which he decentralized to ensure that activities of cultists in the state were brought to the barest minimum and this has been yielding results”

He added, “Recently, we have arrested three notorious cultists in Isolo namely,  Oluwatosin Adebinpe 21 years old popularly called 70, those in Isolo would know who ’70’ is,

Rasaq Agbabiaka 29

and Saheed Olanloku 20,

“So it is a good news to the people of Isolo that three of the notorious cultists terrorizing them have been arrested and we are not relenting on our oars to ensure that other fleeing cultists were also arrested.

“However, our Tactical team in Badagry also recorded another feat in the fight against cultism and arrested five cultists they are all here with us and would be arraigned at the end of this briefing.

“Also in abattoir, we arrested one Ademekun Jamiu aged 29 for cultism, you will agree with me that cultism is perhaps the major problem the Command is currently facing and the command is not relenting on its oars to ensure that this menace is brought to its barest minimum.” he said.

JAMB to consider use of personal devices for UTME — Registrar

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it 9is contemplating a new policy to allow the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates write the examinations with their personal phones and other devices.

   

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede disclosed this in Abuja on Saturday at the 2023 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions.

   

He said this proposed policy was based on the rising cost of logistics in taking the UTME nationwide.

According to him, it cost the JAMB over N1.2billion to equip a Computer Based Test (CBT) centre in Kaduna state, particularly in procuring computers which candidates use to take the examination.

”The policy which falls under the “Bring Your Own Device” may require candidates wishing to take UTME in the future to bring their own devices to the examination hall,” he said.
At the policy meeting, the registrar expressed concern over the crave for university education among candidates at the detriment of polytechnics and colleges of education.

While condemning the wide disparity in admission quotas in the country, he advised aspiring candidates to explore other options within the tertiary education sector for admission.
(NAN).